Yemen’s warring parties have agreed to renew a UN-mediated truce for an additional two months, the UN envoy's office announced late Tuesday.
UN Envoy Grundberg announces that the parties agreed to extend the truce in #Yemen under the same terms for an additional 2 months. This extension includes a commitment to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible. https://t.co/JVOfEDlYL9
— @OSE_Yemen (@OSE_Yemen) August 2, 2022
A press statement by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg hailed the achievement and urged all parties to strive for lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Turkey welcomes extension of truce in Yemen #Yemen #trucehttps://t.co/GvBS2IVho5 pic.twitter.com/r97tqyqqKi
— ILKHA (@IlkhaAgency) August 3, 2022
"In the coming weeks, I will intensify my engagements with the parties to ensure the full implementation of all the parties’ obligations in the truce. This should include the implementation of the full number and regularity of flights between the agreed destinations and Sana’a International Airport and the number of fuel ships entering Hudaydah port, as stipulated in the truce agreement," he said.
Press Release Regarding the Extension of the Existing Truce in Yemen https://t.co/XFtRGQHZ8u pic.twitter.com/h8i46HmmdZ
— Turkish MFA (@MFATurkiye) August 3, 2022
"It is also important to make progress on opening roads in Taiz and other governorates to facilitate the freedom of movement of millions of Yemeni women, men and children, and of goods."
We welcome the @UN truce extension in Yemen, which brings respite from conflict to millions and saves lives - the longest period of calm since the war began. We appreciate @OSE_Yemen and our Special Envoy's tireless efforts.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 2, 2022
The extension of the truce was welcomed by the warring sides. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also welcomed the announcement of the truce extension on Twitter, saying it “brings respite from conflict to millions and saves lives -- the longest period of calm since the war began."
Amazing the state department can put out a statement re conflict in Yemen without even mentioning the Saudis. Pretend they haven’t been bombing the crap out of Yemen for the past 7 years—with US weapons??? https://t.co/Le9Kxc9pBf
— Medea Benjamin (@medeabenjamin) August 3, 2022
Under the cease-fire, which was first reached on April 2, all military operations were halted. The agreement also allowed the operation of commercial flights from rebel-held Sana’a Airport in the Yemeni capital.
We welcome the extension of the truce that has eased the suffering of millions of Yemenis. We are grateful for @OSE_Yemen’s efforts and those with whom he has worked closely, particularly ????. We urge the parties to engage to expand the agreement for the sake of all Yemenis. MD
— Mark Donovan (@AusAmbKSA) August 3, 2022
Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including Sana’a. The Houthis remain in control of the capital as well as wide swathes of territory despite a military campaign conducted by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies since 2015 aimed at ousting them and restoring the Yemeni government.
