Local Editor

US President Barack Obama telephoned King Salman of Saudi Arabia to discuss the situation in Yemen and the newly completed Iran nuclear agreement on Tuesday, according to the White House.

On Yemen, both of them discussed the urgent need to stop the fighting in the country and ensure assistance for all Yemenis through international humanitarian channels.

A Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States has been carrying out airstrikes against Yemen since March. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the UN.

Saudi Arabia has imposed a near total blockade on a country heavily reliant on imports.

The airstrikes have continued despite a UN-declared ceasefire in Yemen. 

The ceasefire failed to take hold on Saturday as Saudi-led coalition air strikes raged on. The pause in the fighting was meant to last a week to allow aid deliveries to the country’s 21 million people who have endured over three months of Saudi-led bombing.