After years without positive developments in the war in Yemen, the country now seems to be slowly regaining hope for a way out. Saudi Arabia appears to want to withdraw from the civil war in the country, Lebanese media say. There also seem to be positive movements on the Iranian side, which opposes the Saudis.
The developments are caused by China’s ability to bring together the two arch enemies, Saudi Arabia and Iran. This week a meeting was held in Beijing between the two foreign ministers of the Middle Eastern countries. It was the first summit in more than seven years between the two countries.
Since the start of Yemen’s civil war in 2014, both countries have been embroiled in large-scale conflict. Iran is backing the Houthi rebels who are trying to overthrow the incumbent government (backed by an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia). The Houthis are the de facto rulers of northern Yemen and claim to be fighting the “corrupt system” as well as “foreign aggression”.
Cease-fire
Reuters reports that the warring factions, the Houthis and the Saudis, are in ceasefire talks. The reopening of important traffic and commercial ports is also being discussed. They are also discussing a deadline for “non-Yemeni” troops to leave the country.
The Saudi-led Arab coalition has long since imposed sanctions against Houthi rebels. This made it virtually impossible to import goods into important ports. Those sanctions will also largely expire. The import of goods into the port of Hodeidah resumed in February. The country suffers from severe shortages and many people suffer from famine. The country’s civil war has killed more than 377,000 people since 2015, largely due to famine.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
