Kerry offers Yemen five-day cease-fire

Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday offered Yemen’s Houthi rebels a five-day cease-fire on behalf of U.S. ally Saudi Arabia.

“We particularly welcome a new Saudi initiative to try and bring about a peaceful resolution through the announcement of their intent to establish a full, five-day, renewable cease-fire and humanitarian pause,” Kerry said during a news conference in Riyadh, according to Reuters.

“This cease-fire is conditioned on the Houthis agreeing to live by these same commitments,” he added.

{mosads}The potential ceasefire would halt U.S.-backed air strikes against Houthi leadership in Yemen. Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of other Sunni Arab nations against the Shiite rebels there.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said the break in fighting would remedy civilian shortages of food, fuel and medicine in Yemen.

“The actual date will be announced shortly as well as the requirements,” al-Jubeir said of the proposed deal.

“This is all based on the Houthis complying with the cease-fire,” he also cautioned.

Kerry on Thursday reiterated that neither the U.S. nor Saudi Arabia would send ground troops into the region. 

He added that the Obama administration remains “very, very concerned” by Shiite Iran’s aid to the Houthis during the conflict.

Kerry additionally met with exiled Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi during his stop in Riyadh, NBC News reported.

“Hopefully we’ll see you in Sanaa soon,” Hadi told Kerry, referring to the Yemeni capital he fled last February.

“Ah, there’s some work to do,” Kerry responded. “Let’s do the work.”

The conflict between the Iran-backed Shiite Houthis and Sunni Arab states has threatened to worsen sectarian tensions in the region.

Last month, fears grew over an Iranian convoy that was believed to be carrying arms to the Houthis, leading the U.S. Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier off the coast of Yemen. The Iranian ships and USS Theodore Roosevelt eventually turned back.

The Houthis first began their insurrection against Hadi in August 2014. 

Civil war has since raged in Yemen between the rebels and loyalists who remain committed to the previous Sunni government.