Yemen Welcomes Peace Initiatives as Houthi Delegation Arrives in Saudi Arabia for Talks

The Yemeni government has expressed its support for peace initiatives aimed at ending the eight-year civil war in the country as a delegation of Houthi rebels arrived in Saudi Arabia for new peace talks. The Yemeni Foreign Ministry issued a statement welcoming the ongoing peace efforts by Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Nations, and the international community.

The Houthi delegation arrived in Riyadh for negotiations, where Saudi Arabia announced its goal of brokering a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and a sustainable political solution agreeable to all parties. Oman, which shares borders with Yemen and Saudi Arabia, has also been actively involved in peace talks. These efforts mark the latest attempt to resolve the Yemeni civil war, which has led to a humanitarian crisis and significant casualties.

The previous UN-brokered ceasefire expired in October of the previous year, but the fighting had reduced on multiple frontlines in its absence. The conflict began in late 2014 when Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, took control of northern provinces and displaced the Yemeni government from the capital, Sanaa.