Saudi Arabia Stands for Cessation of Hostilities in Yemen

Saudi Arabia wants cessation of violence in Yemen, according to the statement of Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir.

DUBAI (Sputnik) — Riyadh is willing to achieve the cessation of hostilities in Yemen shattered by a continued armed conflict, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said Monday.

"Saudi Arabia wants cessation of violence in Yemen," Jubeir was quoted as saying by the Al Ekhbariya broadcaster.

He clarified that Saudi Arabia was ready to accept a ceasefire if the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, joined a ceasefire deal. According to the foreign minister, after a number of failed attempts to reach truce in Yemen, he was not optimistic that peace could reign there.

"There are signs that both parties to the conflict may agree to establish a ceasefire," Jubeir noted.

Yemen has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi movement, who are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at Hadi's request.

In April, the warring sides announced a nationwide ceasefire, however it failed to hold. Besides, the plans of UN special envoy for Yemen to bring all actors to the negotiating table after this process was halted in Kuwait in August have collapsed.