Saudi Delegation Visits Yemen for Peace talks with Houthis

 

Image Credit: Google

A Saudi delegation arrived in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, on Sunday to negotiate a potential new truce with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have controlled the city since 2014. The visit follows the announcement of a surprise rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran that was brokered by China last month, raising hopes for progress in the Yemen conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Last week, Omani mediators also arrived in Sanaa.

The Yemeni government source said that Saudi officials and the Houthis have tentatively agreed to a six-month ceasefire, paving the way for three months of talks to establish a two-year transition for the country. The agreement is expected to fulfil Houthi objectives, including paying salaries to civil servants in Houthi-controlled areas and lifting operational restrictions on Houthi-controlled airports and ports. Saudi officials have yet to comment on the report.

Residents expressed hope for a breakthrough beyond a Saudi exit, stressing the need for a political resolution among the country's warring parties. A teacher in the port city of Hodeida said that the economic toll of the fighting was severe, and war meant the "deterioration of our economic situation". Talks on Yemen made progress as the United States confirmed that it had sent a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine into the Suez Canal in recent days.

Since 2015, the Yemeni conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, most of them civilians. The Houthis have launched attacks on Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh has supported the internationally recognised government with a military coalition, including the United Arab Emirates and other Arab nations. A truce announced a year ago has significantly reduced active hostilities within Yemen, but it officially expired in October, and the conflict continues to impact civilians in the country. (Courtesy: Dawn.pk)