Blinken affirmed US support for the council and the two officials discussed the need to extend a UN-mediated truce by Oct. 2. WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met the Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi on Monday. During the meeting, Blinken affirmed US support for the council and the two officials discussed the need to extend a UN-mediated truce by Oct. 2. Blinken commended the Yemeni government on its leadership on the truce to date, “which has brought much needed calm and hope while improving the lives of millions of Yemenis across the country.” The secretary of state and Al-Alimi affirmed their support for additional steps under the truce, “including opening roads in Taiz and other areas, expanding commercial flights from Sanaa airport, and ensuring salary payments to tens of thousands of teachers, nurses, and other civil servants who have for years worked without pay,” the State Department said. They expressed hope that the Houthis will also support such important steps to bring relief to the people of Yemen. Blinken said that the truce remains the best opportunity through which to reach a nationwide, permanent ceasefire and the launch of an inclusive, comprehensive political process under UN auspices that includes Yemenis’ calls for justice, accountability, and redress for human rights violations and abuses.