SANAA, Mar 27 (NNN-YPA) – Yemen’s Houthi rebels, yesterday, announced a three-day unilateral cease-fire with the Saudi-led coalition, voicing their commitment to a permanent truce, if the coalition ends airstrikes and withdraws forces.
“We will suspend cross-border missile and drone attacks and all military actions against Saudi Arabia, for a period of three days. If Saudi Arabia would agree to end its airstrikes and blockade against Yemen, we are ready to turn this declaration into a final and permanent commitment,” said Mahdi al-Mashat, president of the Houthi militia’s Supreme Political Council, in a televised speech.
“The initiative includes the suspension of all ground battles on all frontlines, including the province of Marib,” al-Mashat added, on the occasion marking the Yemeni civil war entering its eighth year.
The Houthi political leader also proposed a deal to swap all prisoners, including the brother of Yemeni President, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, with the Saudi-led coalition forces.
“We call on the UN envoy to facilitate the exchange of all prisoners,” al-Mashat said.
The Houthi initiative came, hours after the coalition forces launched heavy airstrikes on Houthis’ vital military and economic sites, in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and the capital Sanaa, in retaliation for Houthis’ cross-border missile and drone attacks against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi militia recently intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia, after it lost several strategic districts in the oil-rich provinces of Marib and Shabwa, during its fighting against the Yemeni government army in the past two months.
