WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States urges the parties to the conflict in Yemen to return to the UN-led peace talks after reaching a ceasefire agreement scheduled to come in effect on April 10, Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner said in a briefing on Thursday.
"[The] United States welcomes the announcement by UN special envoy for Yemen that the parties have agreed to nationwide cessation of hostilities in Yemen beginning April 10," Toner stated. "We urge the parties to return in good faith to the UN-led talks."
Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government and Houthi rebels, who have been supported by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Since late March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition has carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions at the request of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.
On Wednesday, UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that the conflicting parties in Yemen had agreed to a ceasefire that would come into effect at midnight on April 10. The sides to the conflict also agreed to start peace talks in Kuwait next month.
