Saudi-Led Coalition Declares Ceasefire in Yemen for Ramadan

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebel group in Yemen declared a ceasefire from March 30 to make peace during the month of Ramadan, the Saudi state news agency reported on Tuesday.

“The joint forces command of the coalition hereby announces cessation of military operations in Yemen beginning at (0600) Wednesday, March 30, 2022,” it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

It stated that the cessation came amid international efforts to reach a comprehensive political resolution to end the Yemeni conflict. The United Nations has previously pushed for a temporary truce in Yemen for Ramadan that starts in April.

“The coalition will abide by this cessation, and undertake all necessary steps and procedures to ensure its success, and create the propitious conditions needed for successful consultations and favorable environment,” it added.

However, Houthi leader Mohammed al-Bukaiti said in a Twitter post that the blockade of Yemeni ports remained a “military action” as it was imposed by the use of weapons. He added that the declaration for cessation would be “meaningless” unless the blockade was lifted.

“If the blockade is not lifted, the coalition’s declaration to stop its military operations will be meaningless because the suffering of Yemenis resulting from the blockade on ports is more severe than the war itself, which means our military operations to break the siege will continue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh welcomed the coalition’s truce declaration and hoped that more efforts would be made to prioritize humanitarian issues in Yemen and move forward with a prisoner swap.