Gulf Arab States applaud new Yemen ceasefire agreement

On Monday, Gulf Arab states welcomed the announcement of a new commitment by warring parties in Yemen to observe a new ceasefire and work towards peace.

The announcement made on Saturday by the United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, represents the latest effort to end a conflict that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula has been at war since Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, took control of Sanaa in 2014, triggering a subsequent military intervention led by Saudi Arabia in support of the government in the following year. A ceasefire brokered under the auspices of the UN significantly reduced violence in April 2022. The truce expired in October of the previous year, but large-scale warfare did not resume.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the announcement of a "roadmap to advance the path to peace." In a statement released on Monday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs encouraged Yemeni parties to "come to the dialogue table to reach a comprehensive and lasting political solution under the auspices of the UN." 

Oman also welcomed the announcement and expressed hope that an agreement "would be signed as soon as possible." 

Qatar expressed its gratitude to the UN, Saudi Arabia, and Oman for their peace efforts while urging Yemeni parties to expedite the conclusion of an agreement.

The UN envoy announced on Saturday that he would now engage with the parties to establish a roadmap for moving toward peace.

The Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, applauded the UN's efforts on Sunday following the announcement of the new ceasefire.