Houthis propose talks with Yemen, Saudi Arabia governments

The Houthi rebels have proposed talks with the government of Yemen just as long as they cease attacks against the Shias after the joint forces increased its offensive campaign in the region.

For several months the Yemeni armed forces joined the Saudi army to launch hundreds of air attacks in the northern region of Yemen to oust al-Qaeda and the Houthi fighters, which has killed hundreds of civilians and displaced 200,000 more. The United States have increased their presence in the region since the attempted terrorist attack on the Northwest Airlines flight 253 because the alleged terrorist Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab received assistance and training in Yemen. Now the Yemen rebels are proposing peace talks with the governments of Saudi Arabia and Yemen but only if they are ready to halt attacks against the Shias in the northern region, according to AFP. On Friday, the Houthis issued a statement on their website recommending negotiations. “We welcome the call by the president of the republic to return to dialogue, and consider it a positive call and a right step to peace and a return to security and stability. We confront aggression and defend ourselves, and when the war stops, we are ready for dialogue.” The Yemeni government has not responded or commented on the proposals. Reuters notes that both the United States and Saudi Arabia fear that al-Qaeda could take advantage of the instability in Yemen and turn it into a terrorist ground for international attacks, while a separatist movement in the south is also troublesome for the allied forces. The Saudis entered the conflict in November and have committed themselves ever since. The Houthis have offered to hold peace talks with the Saudis so they can halt their anti-Shia operations, reports Tehran Times. However, the Houthi fighters want Riyadh to prove that their goals in their mission are to bring peace and stability to Yemen. Since 2004, according to Press TV, the Yemeni government has held operations against the Houthis, even though both sides have struck peace deals but the government accused the Houthis of violating the terms by taking foreign visitors hostage. Nevertheless, Mohammed Abdelsalam, spokesperson for the Houthis, said in a telephone interview with AFP in Dubai, “When the war stops we will be ready for dialogue.”