The first commercial flight in six years took off from the international airport of Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, as part of a truce in force since April 2 between the parties in conflict.
A Yemen Airways plane, with 151 passengers on board, departed for Amman, Jordan, news sources for the Houthi rebels, who have controlled that city since their uprising against the government in 2014, reported.
Since then, Sana’a and large parts of the country have been under the power of the militia, despite repeated calls by the UN to end the war.
On April 2, the cessation of hostilities came into force following negotiations led by the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg.
The agreement provides for the suspension of “all offensive military air, land and maritime operations within Yemen and beyond its borders.”
As part of the initiative, up to 18 ships will be allowed to unload fuel at the Houthi-controlled port of Al Hudeida, through which two-thirds of humanitarian aid enters the country.
In addition, as signed, two commercial flights a week would be allowed to and from Sana’a to Jordan and Egypt.
Prensa Latina
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