The conflict between Yemeni Government forces and the Houthi rebels began in 2015

India has welcomed the agreement between the government of Yemen and Houthi rebels to renew the current truce for two more months.

"We welcome the agreement between the parties to the Yemeni conflict to renew the current truce for two additional months," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

"We are encouraged by this development, the reduction in violence in Yemen during the ceasefire over the past two months as well as the first face- to-face meeting under the UN auspices between the parties to the conflict," MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response to a media query.

"We hope that these developments would lead to further political dialogue between the parties for ending the conflict and restoring peace, security and stability across Yemen," the MEA Spokesperson added.

The extension of the truce between the government in Yemen and Houthi rebels was announced by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Thursday.

The conflict between Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and the Houthis began in 2015, a few months after the rebels took over the capital, Sana’a.

According to several estimates, the conflict has killed over 150,000 people, including over 14,500 civilians, and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, pushing millions of Yemenis to the brink of famine.

The original UN-brokered agreement between the two sides came into effect from April 2.

Over the past two months, the country’s people have experienced the tangible benefits of the truce, Grundberg said.

According to the United Nations, civilian casualties have dropped significantly, fuel deliveries through Hudaydah port have increased considerably, and commercial flights have resumed at the main airport in Sana’a, after nearly six years.