Saudi Arabia has welcomed the United Nations' announcement of a two-month truce in Yemen, its foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The Kingdom welcomed and supported the announcement of the Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition to accept the truce. Furthermore, it appreciated the UN Special Envoy's efforts in this regard, which align with the Saudi initiative to end the Yemeni crisis announced in March 2021.

On Friday, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and the Yemeni government announced that the parties to the conflict had agreed to a truce, which would take effect on Saturday, April 2, at 19:00.

Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), welcomed the announcement of the suspension of operations inside Yemen and along its borders with Saudi Arabia for two months.

UN Envoy and UN-sponsored detailed arrangements create suitable conditions for de-escalation, which is a prerequisite to reaching a political settlement to the conflict and achieving comprehensive peace," Dr. Al-Hajraf said in a press release via the GCC Secretariat.

The GCC chief noted that the truce declaration signals the importance given by the international community to efforts to resolve the Yemen crisis.

In his remarks, he applauded the peacemaking efforts of the UN Special Envoy, noting that the truce was in line with the initiative announced by Saudi Arabia in March 2021 to end the conflict.

Dr. Al-Hajraf also expressed appreciation for the quick response of the Arab coalition to the calls to cease military operations inside Yemen, and expressed hope that the response would bear fruit and help restore peace and security across Yemen.

Grundberg said the parties agreed to cease all offensive military air, ground and maritime operations inside Yemen and across its borders.