FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

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Both Sides in Yemen War Move Toward UN-Brokered Talks

Nov. 19, 2018 (EIRNS)—The Houthi movement in Sana’a announced this morning that they would be suspending their missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and their Yemeni proxy forces in response to UN envoy Martin Griffiths’ efforts to convene new peace talks in Sweden. “We announce our initiative ... to halt missile and drone strikes on the countries of aggression,” Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the head of the Houthis’ Supreme Revolutionary Committee, said in a statement reported Reuters. The decision was based on discussions with Griffiths to show “good faith” and support peace efforts, he said. A few hours later, Saudi King Salman, during a speech to the Kingdom’s Shura Council, announced that the Hadi government has agreed to participate in the peace talks set to be held in Sweden “soon.” Al Jazeera then reported that the Hadi government’s foreign ministry said it had informed Griffiths of its decision to send “a government delegation to the talks with the aim of reaching a political solution,” according to the government-run Yemen News Agency (SABA).

Griffiths reportedly welcomed the Houthi announcement in a Twitter post and called on all parties continue to show restraint “to create a conducive environment for convening the consultations.” A start date for negotiations has yet to be announced.