Saudi Arabia yesterday declared it will keep open a vital port in war-ravaged Yemen to ease the humanitarian crisis, following pressure from Britain.

The kingdom said the Houthi rebel-controlled port of Hodeidah would remain open to humanitarian and commercial ships for a month, despite Monday’s ballistic missile attack by rebels on Riyadh.

"The Coalition will allow the entry of commercial ships, including fuel and food vessels, for a period of 30 days," the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. It said the move followed the "intensification" of a UN vessel security inspection program that it previously said was inadequate.