Egypt welcomes ceasefire by Yemen's Saudi-backed government, southern separatists
Egypt welcomed on Tuesday an announcement by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen of a ceasefire and de-escalation between the Saudi-backed government and southern separatist forces, a statement by the foreign ministry said.
Egypt hailed ‘unremitting efforts’ by Saudi Arabia to support Yemen, stressing its confidence that such attempts would “create the appropriate conditions to resume the political process between Yemeni parties to reach a comprehensive political solution for the crisis.”
The ministry affirmed Egypt’s “support to all efforts aiming to achieve peace, security and stability” in Yemen, which it said would ensure the country’s unity and lift the suffering of the Yemeni people.
The statement by Egypt comes one day after Yemen's Saudi-backed government and southern separatist forces agreed on a ceasefire and said they would begin talks in Riyadh on implementing a peace deal.
The agreed de-escalation followed growing tensions over the weekend after the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized control of the Yemeni island of Socotra, driving out government forces.
Under the agreement, the ceasefire will be implemented in Abyan province along the coast east of Aden, with de-escalation of tensions in Socotra and other areas, as well as the beginning of talks.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led military coalition said on Tuesday it had intercepted and destroyed drones and missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
It said it intercepted "eight booby-trapped unmanned aircraft to target civilian objects and civilians in the kingdom" as well as "three ballistic missiles from Saada governorate towards the kingdom."
https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/372739.aspx