SANA, Yemen — Saudi Arabia on Thursday said it is prepared to begin a five-day, renewable cease-fire in Yemen so that humanitarian aid can reach millions of civilians caught up in the conflict that has killed more than 1,400 people.
The badly needed reprieve was announced in Riyadh by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the Saudi foreign minister. It is dependent on whether Yemen’s Iranian-backed Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, and their allies also agree to halt fighting.
Hamed al-Bokheiti, a spokesman for the Houthi movement in the capital of Sana, was dismissive of the cease-fire.
“What cease-fire are we talking about? Airstrikes are continuing unabated,” he said.
News of the conditional cease-fire after weeks of airstrikes came as forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized president battled the Houthis and their allies.
Military and security officials said the rebel forces advanced on the suburb of Dar Saad, north of the strategic port of Aden on the Arabian Sea, while fighting intensified in nearby Abyan, Shabwa and Taiz provinces.
At a news conference with Kerry, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the oil-rich kingdom would halt its airstrikes in Yemen because it is determined to expand relief assistance to the Yemeni people.
Kerry said the “humanitarian pause” wouldn’t start for several days, enough time for diplomatic efforts to persuade the rebels and their backers to accept the terms of the deal.
“We strongly urge the Houthis and those who back them … not to miss this major opportunity to address the needs of the Yemeni people and find a peaceful way forward,” Kerry said.
