Yemen's Houthi rebels reject Houthi threat to truce

This handout photo provided by the Ansarullah Media Center on September 1, 2022 shows fighters loyal to Yemen's Houthi group taking part in a military parade called Waad al-Akhera the Promise of the Hereafter in the western province of Hodeidah. ANSARULLAH MEDIA HO AFP SANAA - Yemen's Houthi rebel group has rejected the accusation that its recent military parade in the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah has threatened the truce in Yemen, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported on Sunday.

The Houthi group stated that it would remain in support of a just and honorable peace. On September 20, ministers and representatives of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates UAE Britain and the United States held a meeting to discuss the situation in Yemen, after which they issued a joint statement condemning the recent Houthi military parade.

The countries pledged full support to the efforts of UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to extend and expand the truce, which is due for renewal on October 2, and that all terms of the truce must be fully implemented.

Earlier this month, the Houthi group held a large public military parade in Hodeidah. The UN-brokered 2018 Hodeidah Agreement stipulates the full withdrawal of the group from the port city, and the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it violated the UN-brokered 2018 Hodeidah Agreement.

Yemen has been in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern provinces and forced the Yemeni government out of Sanaa.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia formed a coalition that included the UAE, Sudan, and others to intervene in the Yemeni conflict to support the Yemeni government.

Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over peace efforts to end the civil war in Yemen, national Yemeni TV reported Sunday.

This handout photo from the Ansarullah Media Center on September 1, 2022 shows an aerial view of a military parade titled Waad al-Akhera the Promise of the Hereafter attended by senior officials of Yemen's Houthi group in the western province of Hodeidah. ALSO READ: UN envoy puts forward a proposal to prolong the truce in Yemen.

The Yemeni leader informed Guterres of the latest developments in the Yemeni situation and peace efforts.

He also welcomed the role of the UN and the secretary general's efforts to stop the civil war in Yemen and end the suffering of the Yemeni people.

The UN chief reaffirmed the UN's commitment to support the Yemeni government and promised to mobilize necessary resources to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Yemen.

Guterres confirmed that all efforts were made to support the ongoing truce in Yemen and renew it.