Yemeni Houthis End Missile Attacks on Saudi Coalition, Opening Prospects for Peace

DUBAI (Reuters) – Houthi rebels in Yemen announced Monday that they are putting an end to drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their Yemeni allies, in response to a demand of the UN.

The group aligned with Iran, which has been fighting the Saudi-backed government for nearly four years, also said it was ready for a wider ceasefire if the Saudi-led coalition "wanted peace".

The Houthi's decision to end missile attacks could be a turning point in peace efforts as it puts an end to a direct threat to Saudi Arabia. It is by far the largest concession of the movement since its departure from the port city of Aden in 2015.

International pressure on the Yemeni parties to the conflict to end the war that killed more than 10,000 people and pushed the country to the brink of starvation.

The Houthi group's movement came after the coalition had halted its offensive against Hodeidah, the main port city of Yemen, which became the center of the war.

"We announce our initiative (…) to stop the missile and drone strikes on the countries of aggression," said Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, chairman of the Supreme Committee of the Houthist Revolution, in a statement.

The decision was made on the basis of discussions with US Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to demonstrate "good faith" and support peace efforts, he said.

Griffiths is trying to save the peace talks after the failure of a round in September when the Houthis did not show up. He hopes to hold talks before the end of the year in Sweden to agree on a peace framework for a transitional government.

Yemeni parties have given "firm assurances" their commitment to peace talks, Griffiths told the US Security Council on Friday as Britain urged the council to support a humanitarian truce in Yemen on Monday.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia on Monday reaffirmed the kingdom's support for the United States efforts to end the war. The Riyadh-backed government has also announced its willingness to participate in the next round of consultations.

Tired of the war

Yemenis cautiously welcomed the announcement on Monday.

"We pray that this will be the real beginning of peace in Yemen. We are all tired of this war, "said Mona Ibrahim, a teacher in the capital, Sanaa, under Houthi control since September 2014.

"We just want to live like other humans," said Mohammed al-Ahdal, a resident of Hodeidah.

The Houthi Defense Ministry said it would react to the hostilities of the coalition.

Graham Griffiths, Senior Analyst at Control Risks Middle East, said the announcement was potentially important because it came in response to the suspension of coalition operations around Hodeidah.

"Efforts to resume the peace process remain fragile … given the mutual mistrust between the warring parties. Nevertheless, given the renewed pressure from the international community, there is a real chance to move the conflict towards a sustainable de-escalation, "he said.

The Al Masirah television station, led by the Houthis, reported Monday that the Houthi forces had fired a ballistic missile at the forces backed by the Saudis in the southern desert on the border with Saudi Arabia.

Houthis say missile attacks on Saudi Arabia are retaliation for airstrikes by western-backed coalition Yemen, which went to war in 2015 to try to re-establish President Abd-Rabbu's government Mansour Hadi, supported by Saudi Arabia.

The coalition has carried out thousands of airstrikes in the poor country that hit schools, markets and hospitals, killing hundreds – even though it says it does not target civilians.

Western allies, including the United States, have called for a ceasefire before renewed efforts by the United Kingdom.

Western countries have provided weapons and intelligence to the Arab countries of the alliance, but have expressed growing reservations about the conflict since the murder of US-based dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month.