NEW YORK — The members of the UN Security Council welcomed the extension of the two-month truce in Yemen.

In a press statement Friday, the members of the Council expressed their appreciation for the measures taken by the parties to maintain the truce, which led to real and tangible benefits for the Yemeni people, including a significant reduction in civilian casualties.

They expressed their aspirations and hope that the truce could be translated into a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement under the auspices of the United Nations.

The members of the UN Security Council encouraged the Yemeni parties to continue their engagement with the United Nations Special Envoy to negotiate and communicate with each other in a spirit of mutual respect and reconciliation.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden welcomed on Thursday the extension of a UN-brokered truce between Yemen's warring parties, and said Saudi Arabia had demonstrated “courageous leadership” by endorsing and enacting its terms.

The UN's Yemen envoy Hans Grundberg announced earlier that the existing ceasefire, which began in April on the first day of Ramadan, had been extended by two months.

“The last two months in Yemen, thanks to the truce brokered in April, have been among the most peaceful periods since this terrible war began seven years ago,” Biden said in a statement.

The American president said Oman, Egypt and Jordan had also played roles in enabling the truce process.

A truce between the government in Yemen and Houthi rebels has been renewed for an additional two months, Grundberg announced on Thursday.

“By agreeing to implementing and now renewing the truce, the parties have provided a rare glimmer of hope to Yemenis that an end to this devastating conflict is possible,” he said in a statement.

The extension comes into effect at 7 pm local time, and under the same terms as the original UN-brokered agreement, which began on April 2.

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

Civilian casualties have dropped significantly, fuel deliveries through Hodeidah port have increased considerably, and commercial flights have resumed at the main airport in Sana’a, after nearly six years.

Additionally, the parties have been meeting face-to-face under UN auspices for the first time in years to make progress toward opening roads in Taiz and other war-ravaged governorates and implementing nationwide military de-escalation mechanisms.

“I commend the parties for taking these steps, and for agreeing to extend the truce," said Grundberg. "The truce represents a significant shift in the trajectory of the war and has been achieved through responsible and courageous decision making by the parties.”

The truce renewal is also good news for boys and girls in Yemen, according to Philippe Duamelle, Representative of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in the country.

"We hope this will lead to a lasting peace in Yemen. This is the only way to spare children’s lives and prevent more misery and grief for families caught up in this conflict," he said. — Agencies