Saudi Arabia denies Houthis’ $51bn peace demand

Saudi Arabia has strongly rejected reports claiming that Yemen’s Houthi movement demanded $51 billion in exchange for ending hostilities with the kingdom through negotiations.

The allegations were published by the US-based Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which reported that Riyadh had approached the Houthis to explore the possibility of reaching a negotiated settlement and ending the ongoing conflict.

According to the report, the Houthis had demanded $51 billion as part of a potential agreement. The group had also allegedly sought official recognition as Yemen’s legitimate rulers.

However, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Rayed Krimly, categorically dismissed the claims, describing them as entirely fabricated.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Krimly said the allegations had no basis and were based on fabricated information provided by the writers or their alleged sources.

The Saudi official also accused the Houthis of undermining Yemen’s internationally recognised government, contributing to famine and dragging the country into conflicts that have harmed its population.

He further criticised the group for attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, targeting civilian and economic infrastructure, and rejecting international peace initiatives.

Krimly stressed that Yemen already has a recognised government, rejecting any suggestion that the Houthis should be treated as the country’s legitimate rulers.

The dispute comes amid renewed tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, against the backdrop of the wider Middle East conflict.

Regional hostilities escalated on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the region.

Tensions in Yemen also intensified in July after the Houthis allowed an Iranian aircraft to land in the country in defiance of Saudi restrictions on Yemeni airspace.

Saudi Arabia responded with an attack on the airport, triggering further exchanges that undermined the ceasefire arrangements established in 2022 to ease Yemen’s prolonged civil war.

Since then, the Houthis have announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and carried out attacks on Saudi oil tankers operating in the Red Sea, alongside strikes against Saudi territory.

The latest developments have raised fresh concerns about the prospects for peace in Yemen and the security of vital shipping routes in the Red Sea.