REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, RIYADH -- A Saudi-led coalition declared an end Tuesday to four weeks of air strikes in Yemen, saying the threat of Iran-backed rebels there had been removed and that operations are entering a political phase.

However, it left open the option of resuming strikes if the movements of the Houthi Shiite rebels warrant it, while adding that a naval blockade on the strategic country at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula will continue.

Shiite Iran welcomed the move, calling it a "step forward" toward resolving the conflict, while there was no immediate reaction from the Houthis.

But the announcement came as a US aircraft carrier was headed to the Arabian Sea, with Washington saying it was monitoring Iranian vessels suspected of carrying weapons to the rebels in violation of a UN embargo.

The coalition has "ended Operation Decisive Storm based on a request by the Yemeni government and President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi," its spokesman, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, said in Riyadh.

The operation, which began March 26, will continue until midnight.

A coalition statement said the next step would aim to resume the political process in Yemen, delivering aid and "fighting terrorism" in the country, home to a deadly Al-Qaeda franchise.

Diplomatically, the coalition would seek "international cooperation... to prevent arms from reaching" the rebels.

It would also "confront movements and military operations of Houthi militia and their allies... to prevent them from using the arms stolen from military camps or smuggled from abroad," it added.

Coalition forces would "continue to protect civilians in Aden and target any attempts to carry out operations" by the militia," Assiri added.

Speaking in Tehran, foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the "establishment of a ceasefire and a stop to the killing of innocent and defenceless people is a step forward."

In remarks carried by state news agency IRNA, she said she hoped humanitarian aid would be sent soon and that "a situation for talks between Yemeni parties and groups for formation of a comprehensive government is resumed."

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