All sides in the conflict warned they will retaliate if the truce is broken.
Saudi Arabian King Salman on Sunday canceled plans to attend this week`s summit at Camp David with President Obama because of the cease-fire. Obama had planned to meet one-on-one with Salman a day before Thursday`s summit of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, but the White House did not take his decision to skip the meeting as a sign of any disagreement with the U.S.
Instead, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who is also interior minister, will lead the Saudi delegation at the summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said. Also attending will be the Saudi king`s son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is defense minister.
Salman, who took power in January after his brother King Abdullah died, has not traveled abroad since his ascension to the throne.
The SABA news agency, which is under the control of the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, quoted Col. Sharaf Ghalib Luqman as saying rebels in the armed forces agreed with the cease-fire. The Houthis also issued a statement saying they will cooperate with the cease-fire and urging a return to dialogue.
Saudi Brig. Gen. Ahmed Ali Asiri, the coalition`s spokesman, said Saturday that the cease-fire will be canceled if the rebels violate it.
The insurgents` announcement came as airstrikes continued Sunday and hit the residence of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who backs the Houthis, in the capital, Sanaa. Saleh appeared on television afterward, standing in front of the ruins. He urged Yemenis to remain steadfast in the face of Saudi aggression and to beware of spies among them. He urged a return to dialogue.
The conflict in Yemen has killed more than 1,400 people, many of them civilians, since March 19, according to the United Nations.
The Houthis said in a statement that the coalition naval blockade prevented merchant ships carrying food from docking in the port of Hodeida, the Associated Press reported.
Johannes Van Der Klauuw, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said Saturday he was deeply concerned about the civilian damage from the airstrikes.
"The impact on civilian infrastructure across Yemen has been devastating," Van Der Klauuw said. "Many Yemenis are now deprived of access to basic services, including medical treatment, food, water and other necessities."
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