In a press release on Friday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Egypt hopes that the truce could contribute to backing political solutions, initiatives, and efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement for the Yemeni crisis.

“Egypt supports all efforts aiming to achieve peace, security, and stability in Yemen and preserves its unity,” the foreign ministry confirmed in its statement.

Talks of a truce have been the centre of the second Yemeni National Dialogue that was launched by the Saudi-based Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is running from 29 March to 7 April in Riyadh with the aim of promoting a new initiative to end the conflict in Yemen.

Besides halting military operations in Yemen and across Yemeni borders, the truce agreed upon by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and the Houthi rebels will allow fuel ships to enter Hodeida Port and commercial flights to operate from the Sanaa International Airport.

The UN has expressed its hopes that the ceasefire, which comes after a steep rise in Houthi attacks against vital facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the past weeks, could serve as a first step to end the more than seven-year-old conflict between the warring parties.

Egypt has repeatedly called for a political solution in Yemen that would meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people in achieving stability and development and end the extended humanitarian crisis.

The country has also reiterated its support to the UN’s efforts in Yemen, calling for a solution to the crisis that is based on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative, the outcome of the national dialogue, and the UN Security Council’s relevant resolutions.

Over the past years, Egypt has stressed its unwavering support to the legitimate Saudi-backed Yemeni government of Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, which the Houthis ousted from Sanaa in 2014. Egypt has also discussed with the Yemeni government long-term partnerships in various fields to support Yemen’s redevelopment.

Egypt also frequently condemned the Houthi rebels's attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia, stressing its support for all Saudi measures aiming to protect its national security.

Early in March, the Egyptian foreign ministry welcomed a UN Security Council resolution to expand an arms embargo on Houthis, saying it will contribute to stopping their attacks and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Yemen.

The conflict — which started in 2014 — has pushed more than 20 million Yemenis out of a population of about 30 million to be in need of humanitarian assistance, according to statements made by the UN in October.