US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking voiced cautious optimism for efforts to end the seven-year-long war on Tuesday but warned that “there’s more that needs to be done.”

Lenderking, one of US President Joe Biden’s first appointments, recently returned from a three-week trip to the region. Since last year, he has been involved in shuttle diplomacy as the Biden administration doubled down on US efforts to help reach a ceasefire in Yemen.

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Lenderking met with newly appointed officials in Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council during his most recent trip.

“I do think that the opportunity of a new presidential leadership council creates a more representative approach,” Lenderking told Al Arabiya during an interview at the State Department.

The leadership council has brought together several individuals who “have heated rivalry,” Lenderking said.

He added: “So far, it looks very promising to us when you couple that with the fact that there’s a truce since April 2. I think this is really a significant moment for Yemen.”

The US diplomat was referring to the ceasefire that was reached at the start of Ramadan between the internationally-recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthis.

-Agencies