Yemen’s Houthi group has demanded $51 billion in compensation from Saudi Arabia, along with formal recognition of its government in Yemen, in return for an agreement to halt attacks.
According to the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia contacted the Houthis to find out the terms of a possible agreement to stop the attacks. In response, the Houthis set out a condition of heavy financial compensation and recognition of their political status.
According to the report, the Houthis say the $51 billion demand is to make up for the damage caused by Saudi airstrikes and the long blockade. The financial demands were later revised, but the group made clear that Saudi Arabia would have to pay a heavy price to end the conflict.
Tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have flared up again in recent months. According to the report, the Houthis have targeted Saudi oil facilities and airports while continuing their advance inside Yemen.
Houthi fighters have reached within about 50 miles of Aden, the center of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. This advance is being described as their most significant move near Aden since 2015.
According to the conflict-monitoring organization ACLED, 26 attacks inside Saudi Arabia were reported in October. These included strikes on civilian airports and Saudi Aramco facilities.
According to experts, the Houthis’ strong position on the ground and their attacks on key Saudi infrastructure have made it difficult for Riyadh to choose between military action and negotiations. Further ground operations risk casualties, while continued attacks could also hurt investor confidence.
The report adds that the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the campaign against the Houthis, while Saudi Arabia has tried to expand cooperation through a joint defense agreement with Türkiye and Pakistan, referred to as the Mecca agreement. Pakistan has denied reports that it is taking part in military operations in Yemen.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s army has claimed that since October 5 it has carried out 1,322 operations against Houthi positions, in which roughly 340 fighters were killed or neutralized.
According to the United Nations, fighting that has continued since July has killed or wounded thousands of people and displaced more than 250,000.
Most of the article’s claims are attributed to a Wall Street Journal report, which I haven’t independently checked.
