Security forces guard the entrance of the Sanaa International Airport as the convoy of UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths arrives at the airport in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 18, 2019. The United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths left the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Monday after a one-day visit in which he cemented a peace deal reached in Stockholm December last year. Based on Griffiths' plan, the warring parties agreed on a first phase to withdraw from the ports of the Red Sea city and facilitate access by the UN humanitarian aid workers to reach grain aid in the city's mills, according to a UN statement. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

SANAA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths left the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Monday after a one-day visit in which he cemented a peace deal reached in Stockholm December last year.

Based on Griffiths' plan, the warring parties agreed on a first phase to withdraw from the ports of the Red Sea city and facilitate access by the UN humanitarian aid workers to reach grain aid in the city's mills, according to a UN statement.

The deal was a major breakthrough to avert battles in the besieged city, which is the lifeline entry point to the country's most commercial imports and humanitarian aid.

The rival parties also agreed to meet within a week to finalize the second phase of troop withdrawal from the city as set out in the Stockholm peace agreement.

The rebels currently control Hodeidah while the government troops have been massing in the southern and eastern outskirts of the port city.