Saudi Arabia Denies Report Claiming Houthis Demanded $51 Billion and Recognition to Halt Escalation in Yemen

Yemen Monitor | Newsroom: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Raed Qarmali, has rejected a report by US newspaper The Wall Street Journal concerning alleged demands made by the Houthi group to Riyadh in exchange for ending hostilities, describing the claims as “completely unfounded.” In a statement, Qarmali categorically denied the reported Houthi demands, saying they were “the product of the imagination of the article’s authors or their alleged sources.” The Saudi official accused the Houthi group of staging a coup against Yemen’s government, contributing to the starvation of Yemenis and dragging the country into conflicts and agendas that do not serve its interests. He also accused the group of attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea, civilian and economic infrastructure, and rejecting peace efforts. Qarmali added that Yemen has an internationally recognized government, urging the authors of the report to take that fact into account. The Wall Street Journal had previously reported, citing sources, that Saudi Arabia had contacted the Houthis to gauge their demands for halting attacks. The newspaper said the group had sought $51 billion in compensation for years of Saudi-led airstrikes and blockade, along with other financial demands, and had made Riyadh’s recognition of its rule over Yemen a condition. The newspaper also reported, citing Saudi officials, that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was reluctant to enter comprehensive negotiations with the Houthis before securing military gains on the ground that would provide him with leverage. It further said the crown prince was concerned that deploying additional Saudi ground forces to Yemen could result in casualties and trigger domestic repercussions. The post Saudi Arabia Denies Report Claiming Houthis Demanded $51 Billion and Recognition to Halt Escalation in Yemen appeared first on Yemen Monitor.