Insurgents fired mortars on military locations near the rebel stronghold of Saada, Yemen last Saturday, putting in doubt a cease-fire between the government of Yemen and the Houthi Shiite rebels.

Mohammed Albasha, spokesman for the Yemen Embassy in Washington, said that the government remains committed to a cease-fire, but commanders on the front lines reported the rebel fire.

Government forces had not resumed fighting, Albasha added.

In order to deliver aid to civilians displaced by the violence, aid groups have repeatedly urged both sides to stop fighting. Agencies also seek the creation of a humanitarian corridor through which supplies can be delivered.

Some 150,000 people were forced to leave their homes as fighting raged in the northern Yemen governates of Saada and Amran, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates.

According to a statement from the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, the government would cease military operations in northwestern regions by noon Saturday if the rebels agreed to certain conditions.

(via CNN)