Yemen Eyes Cease-Fire Amid 7-Year War

A nationwide United Nations-brokered cease-fire in effect as of Saturday evening offered war-torn Yemen a glimpse of hope.

Though many Yemenis are unsure the truce will spell an end to the 7-year conflict that has threatened millions with poverty, homelessness and hunger.

The Daily Sabah reports a 38-year-old electrician, Murad Abdullah in the southern port city of Aden saying; "The truce is good but I do not have faith in its success, because each side will have a different interpretation of how to implement it and it will collapse."

Another fellow, a government employee, Ibtihal Al-Arashi saw the deal as temporary and said; "We want to end this absurd war. We want real peace under a civil state that protects rights and freedoms."

Najeeb al-Bashiri, a government employee also said; "This truce is indeed good, an excellent thing, but let's see how it is implemented. Should the strikes on Sanaa stop, the airport open, Hodeidah port open, then we will feel there is a truce, that it has something tangible."

The two-month truce is the first time since 2016 that warring sides have agreed on a nationwide cessation of hostilities.

The cease-fire deal includes a halt to offensive military operations, including cross-border attacks, and also allows fuel imports into areas controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthi group and some commercial flights to operate from the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

U.N. special envoy, Hans Grundberg has said he will press for a permanent cease-fire. The U.N and U.S. Yemen envoys have been trying since last year to engineer a permanent truce needed to revive stalled political negotiations.