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Egypt Independent
“Yemen’s warring parties are setting out terms for a peace deal. The agreement would extricate Saudi Arabia from a costly war and help alleviate a devastating humanitarian crisis”, sources close to the talks and a Houthi official said on Tuesday.
“Talks between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis are focused on steps to lift the blockade on Houthi-held ports and Sanaa airport in return for a promise from the Iran-aligned group for truce”, the sources said.
The sources added, “Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi made a commitment to an Omani delegation, visiting Sanaa, to begin ceasefire discussions immediately after the blockade is lifted; in line with the latest proposal from UN envoy Martin Griffiths”.
The coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015, after the Houthis ousted the internationally recognised government from the capital, Sanaa.
The war has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis and pushed the country to the brink of famine. The Houthis have been attacking Saudi infrastructure facilities with armed drones and ballistic missiles.
One of the sources said, “Riyadh was open to a deal, but would need some additional guarantees from Oman and Iran”; both with close ties with the Houthis.
If an agreement was reached, it would be the first breakthrough in UN-led efforts to end the war since stalled peace talks were last held in Sweden in December 2018. The agreement would grant Joe Biden’s administration a foreign policy win and ease tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
US envoy Tim Lenderking and UN’s Martin Griffiths visited Riyadh last week where they met Saudi, Yemeni and Omani officials to push for an agreement.
