NYN | News
Saudi Arabia is trying to calm the anger of Sana’a following the Washington meeting, through a new diplomatic initiative.
In a move that reflects Riyadh’s concern over the repercussions of the recent American escalation, Saudi Arabia has acted to contain the angry response from Sana’a. Saudi Ambassador to the internationally recognized government, Mohammad Al-Jaber, arrived in Muscat, Oman, the residence of the Houthi delegation (Ansar Allah), just days after the meeting between the defense ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United States in Washington to discuss the Yemen issue.
Al-Jaber tweeted on his official X page that he met with the Iraqi ambassador to Yemen, Qais Al-Amiri, noting that they discussed the latest developments in the “Yemeni crisis” and reviewed Saudi Arabia’s support for the UN-backed roadmap. This move suggests that Riyadh is playing the role of a mediator, which Sana’a rejects, as it considers Saudi Arabia a key party in the conflict.
Al-Jaber expressed his desire to reach a political agreement at a time when Washington imposed new sanctions targeting prominent figures in Sana’a, which could hinder communication channels between the concerned parties and fail the Iraqi mediation requested by Al-Jaber.
The Saudi move indicates Riyadh’s attempts to de-escalate the situation and avoid an escalation that could affect it, especially after Ambassador Al-Jaber participated in a diplomatic tour in Washington led by Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, where they discussed the new American approaches toward Sana’a.
It seems that Riyadh recognizes the seriousness of the current situation and is seeking to open alternative communication channels in an effort to avoid an escalation that could bring the region back to a military tension.
