Yemen deal 'will help bring back security': Saudi-envoy to US
Saudi Arabia and its Arab coalition partners "strongly support" an agreement reached on Yemen in UN-brokered peace talks yesterday, which includes a ceasefire in the vital port of Hodeida, Riyadh's US ambassador Khalid bin Salman said. "The agreement announced today will help bring back security to the region including the security of the significant Red Sea," the envoy said on his Twitter account.
'Committed to ending the humanitarian crisis to help Yemen rebuild'
All forces would be withdrawn from Hodeida: US Secretary General
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the breakthrough in Sweden, where representatives of the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels held talks on ending the conflict in Yemen, which has triggered the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Guterres said the warring sides agreed to a ceasefire in war-torn Hodeida, and that all forces would be withdrawn from the city and harbor.
US will play leading role in monitoring rebel-held port: Guterres
The United Nations, Guterres said, would play a "leading role" in monitoring the rebel-held port and facilitate aid access for the civilian population. In a series of tweets, the Saudi envoy expressed support for the agreement while defending the kingdom's role in the four-year-old war.
'KSA, UAE contributed most towards 2018 UN humanitarian response plan'
Khalid portrayed houthis as the cause of humanitarian crisis
Khalid, who is the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, portrayed the Iranian-backed Houthis as the cause of the humanitarian crisis and maintained that "only consistent military pressure by the Yemeni armed forces and the Arab coalition forced them to agree" to UN supervision of Hodeida. He further said he hopes that Houthis accept a comprehensive political solution.
We hope Houthis accept comprehensive political solution for Yemen: Khalid
Next round of peace talks to be held in January
A new round of talks has been set for January end, with analysts predicting that Washington will continue to pressure Saudi Arabia to end the conflict. The Houthi rebel movement, which started in 2015, has resulted in the death of over 50,000 people in Yemen.
