Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen said on Monday he had traveled to the country’s Houthi-held capital to strengthen a truce and push dialogue that could end the country’s eight-year-old war, according to reports.
“I visit Sanaa along with a delegation from the brotherly Sultanate of Oman to stabilize the truce and ceasefire,” Mohammed Al-Jaber said on Twitter in the first official comment from Saudi authorities about the trip.
The capital has been controlled by the Houthis since they drove the Yemeni government out in 2015.
Even though it officially expired in October, a truce announced roughly a year ago has significantly reduced active hostilities within Yemen and is still respected. Both sides are hoping to reach an agreement to make it permanent.
News outlets have acknowledged reports from various independent sources saying that an agreement could be signed before the end of the month that includes a new six-month truce to pave the way for talks on establishing a two-year “transition.”
On Sunday, Houthi media showed Ambassador Al-Jaber shaking hands with the Houthis’ political leader, Mahdi al-Mashat.
The flurry of activity in the war-torn nation comes as Saudi Arabia recalibrates its foreign policy in general, recently agreeing with adversary Iran to re-establish ties in talks hosted by China.
The UN described the newest round of talks as “a welcome step towards the de-escalation in tensions.”
