Kerry: Yemen rebels agree to a cease-fire, starting Thursday
SANAA, Yemen — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that Yemen’s Shiite rebels have agreed to a cease-fire for their war-torn country, starting later this week — on condition their adversaries also agree to it.
However, Kerry’s announcement drew an immediate backlash from the internationally-recognized Yemeni government, which dismissed the deal as “unilateral.”
Kerry told reporters that the rebels, known as Houthis, have told him they agree to abide by a cessation of hostilities, starting on Thursday, providing the government side does the same, and that they are also willing to participate in a unity government, to be formed by the end of the year.