By Al-Fassel and AFP | 2023-09-20

RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis hailed as "positive" recently concluded historic but inconclusive talks in Riyadh, as diplomatic efforts increased Wednesday (September 20) to end Yemen's protracted war.

The five days of talks were "positive", Saudi and Houthi officials said, after the Houthi delegation ended the first public visit to the Saudi capital since the Iran-backed group staged a coup in Sanaa in September 2014.

The Houthi delegation, along with an Omani mediator, has returned to Sanaa, media sources said. Oman has been regularly involved in mediation efforts.

In a Wednesday statement, the Saudi foreign ministry hailed the "positive results of the serious discussions regarding reaching a road map to support the peace process in Yemen," without disclosing any specific outcomes.

In Riyadh, the Houthi delegation also met with Saudi defense minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who said he reaffirmed the kingdom's commitment "to reach a comprehensive political solution under UN [United Nations] supervision."

Two sources told Reuters that some progress has been made on the main sticking points, including a timeline for foreign troops exiting Yemen and a mechanism for paying public wages.

The Saudi side was headed by Mohammed al-Jaber, the kingdom's ambassador to Yemen, while the Houthis' delegation was led by the group's spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam.

Abdel Salam indicated that both sides were looking for solutions to problems that were raised with a Saudi delegation during talks in Sanaa in April.

"We discussed some options and alternatives to overcome the issues of disagreement that the previous round touched upon," he said on X, formerly Twitter.

The process appears to have snagged on Houthi demands that include payment of their civil servants' salaries by the displaced Yemeni government, and the launch of flights to new destinations from Sanaa airport.

Ali al-Qhoom, a member of the Houthis' political council, said "there will be a new round of negotiations," but he also made no mention of any concrete achievements out of Riyadh.

The talks were "serious and positive," al-Qhoom posted on X, expressing optimism that outstanding issues would be resolved.

International efforts

As the Riyadh talks ended, the top diplomats of the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- a key Arab coalition member -- met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was a "productive meeting" with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and their Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.

"We discussed the urgent need for a durable resolution to the conflict in Yemen, and other priorities," Blinken wrote on X. "Coordination with our partners on Yemen and regional challenges is critical to peace and stability."

Separately, Sheikh Abdullah met the chairman of the Yemeni government's Presidential Command Council, Rashad al-Alimi, the UAE's official WAM news agency said.

The two discussed "international efforts made to reach a political solution to the Yemeni crisis."

Yemen was plunged into conflict when the Houthis took control of Sanaa in September 2014, ousting the internationally recognised government and prompting the Saudi-led coalition to launch its offensive the following March.

The fighting has left hundreds of thousands dead and forced millions from their homes, leaving three-quarters of the population dependent on aid.

But active hostilities have dwindled considerably in the past 18 months.

A UN-brokered ceasefire is largely holding, despite officially expiring in October, and the warring parties have made tentative steps towards peace.

The Houthis see Saudi Arabia as a party to the conflict, whereas al-Jaber, Saudi ambassador to Yemen, has said Riyadh sees itself as more of a mediator trying to facilitate an agreement between the Houthis and Yemen's government.