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Houthis state readiness to talk peace with Saudis as missiles continue to rain

By escalating military operations against Riyadh, the Houthis are seeking to build themselves a position of strength for public negotiations with Saudi Arabia.
Smoke billows following an airstrike by Saudi-led coalition in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, on June 16, 2020. - Yemen is wracked by a war which has killed tens of thousands of people and led to the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.
The war between Huthi rebels and pro-government forces escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition intervened against the rebels who control large parts of Yemen including the capital Sanaa. (Photo by MOHAMMED HUWAIS / AFP) (Photo by MOHAM

Yemen's Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, takes two approaches to its relationship with Saudi Arabia. Informal negotiations between the two sides started first, paving the way for the Houthis to recently announce their desire for direct dialogue with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, provided that it's public. At the same time, Houthi missiles and drones still penetrate Saudi airspace.

The informal negotiations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia in Jordan were revealed in late September 2019. On June 13, the Houthis announced willingness to head to Riyadh and stop the Yemeni war that has been going on for over five years via a public dialogue with the Saudi-led Arab coalition on a comprehensive cease-fire.

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