Media: Saudi Arabia offers Houthis two-week truce

Saudi Arabia has proposed a two-week ceasefire with Yemen's Houthi movement through Oman, followed by direct talks aimed at addressing humanitarian issues and working towards a broader agreement, Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper reports.

The report, citing unnamed sources, said the proposal followed contacts between Saudi Arabia and the United States, Egypt, Pakistan and Oman in recent days. Oman, which has mediated between Riyadh and the Houthis in previous negotiations, was reportedly asked to convey the proposal to Sanaa.

According to Al-Akhbar, Saudi Arabia has offered to lift the blockade on Yemen and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid during the proposed truce. The newspaper said the Houthis were seeking a more comprehensive settlement, including an end to the blockade, a Saudi military and political withdrawal from Yemen and financial compensation for damage to Yemeni cities and infrastructure.

The report also said the Houthis had previously rejected Saudi proposals for a Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue, arguing that Yemen's internal political process should not involve outside powers.

The claims come amid reported diplomatic contacts involving the US, Oman and the Houthis. Reuters separately reported that US representatives and senior Houthi officials held secret talks in Muscat last week, with Omani support. According to the report, the Houthis told US officials they intended to continue observing a 2025 ceasefire with Washington and did not plan to attack US vessels.

Al-Akhbar also linked the latest Saudi initiative to developments on Yemen's western coast and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well as Saudi concerns over the security situation. Those details were attributed to sources familiar with the developments and have not been independently confirmed.

The proposed truce would mark a shift towards direct political negotiations if implemented, but the report said Sanaa had not yet given a final response.

Saudi Arabia has not officially confirmed the details of the proposal reported by Al-Akhbar.

By Aghakazim Guliyev