Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry has expressed its approval of the outcomes from the discussions held in Riyadh with a delegation representing the rebel Ansar Allah (Houthis) movement regarding a roadmap for resolving the conflict in Yemen.
"The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed its satisfaction with the positive outcomes of significant discussions concerning the development of a roadmap for the peace process in Yemen. These discussions were convened by the Saudi liaison and coordination group, led by Ambassador Mohammed bin Saeed al-Jaber, and included representatives from the Sultanate of Oman. The talks were conducted with a delegation from Sana'a (Yemen's capital, Sana'a, has been under Houthi control since 2015 - TASS) headed by Mohammed Abdel Salam Falita, in Riyadh from September 14 to 18, 2023," the ministry said in the statement.
These discussions followed meetings that the Saudi side had with representatives of Yemen's presidential council, as well as consultations with the Houthis in Sana'a. The ministry stated that Riyadh put forth numerous ideas and options for a roadmap aimed at resolving the conflict.
On Wednesday night, Saudi Defense Minister Khaled bin Salman Al Saud revealed that he had conducted a meeting with a delegation of Houthi representatives in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. He posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "I met with a delegation from Sana'a, which arrived in Riyadh to finalize efforts aimed at supporting the peace process in Yemen. During the meeting, I reiterated the Kingdom's support for Yemen and its brotherly people, and emphasized our eagerness to encourage all parties involved in the Yemeni conflict to engage in comprehensive and long-lasting political negotiations under the supervision of the UN." The Saudi foreign ministry expressed high appreciation for the consultations.
On Tuesday, the Al Masirah TV channel reported that the Ansar Allah delegation had departed from Riyadh, concluding a five-day round of talks regarding the resolution of the conflict in Yemen. According to sources from Reuters, the parties made "some progress" in discussions on crucial issues related to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Yemen and the provision of social guarantees to the population in Houthi-controlled areas. The agency's sources suggest that representatives of the Houthis and Saudi officials plan to convene another meeting in the near future.
The conflict between government forces and supporters of the Ansar Allah rebel movement, also known as the Houthis, has been ongoing in Yemen since August 2014. It escalated significantly with the Saudi-led coalition's invasion of the country in March 2015. In early April 2022, the parties to the conflict managed to secure a truce, but the ceasefire expired on October 2 of the same year.
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Based on materials from TASS