Riyadh has 'open channel' with Yemen rebels: Saudi official

Riyh is in talks with Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels in a bid to end country's civil war, a Saudi official said Wednesday in first official confirmation of dialogue between two sides. comment comes after Saudi Arabia brokered a power-sharing agreement between Yemen's internationally recognized government and sourn separatists, which observers say could pave way for a wider peace deal.

"We have h an open channel with Huthis since 2016. We are continuing se communications to support peace in Yemen," a senior Saudi official told reporters. We don't close our doors with Huthis." official, who declined to be named, gave furr details on talks but development came after rebel missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities spiked over summer, followed by a lull in recent weeks.

re was immediate comment from Huthi rebels, who seized Yemen's capital Sanaa and much of country's rth in 2014, sparking a Saudi-led military intervention following March. Washington too is in talks with Huthis, Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker said during a visit to Saudi Arabia in September. He did t say wher Americans were holding talks separately with rebels, but analysts say y were likely happening in consultation with Saudi Arabia, a key ally of Washington.

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Landmark ceasefire deal

Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 as Huthi rebels closed in on second city en, prompting President Abedrabbo Mansour Hi to flee into Saudi exile. Riyh h reportedly hoped for a quick win against Huthis but inste wed into a quagmire that has cost it billions of dollars and hurt its reputation, while devastating Arab world's poorest country. confirmation of talks comes amid slow implementation of a landmark ceasefire deal in rebel-held Hodeida, which was agreed between government and Huthis in Sweden late last year. deal was hailed as Yemen's best chance so far to end four-year conflict, but it appears to be hanging by a thre with breaches reported by both sides.

"If Huthis (are) serious to deescalate and accept to come to table, Saudi Arabia will support ir demand and support all political parties to reach a political solution," Saudi official said.

Huthis, on ir part, have offered to halt all attacks on Saudi Arabia as part of a wider peace initiative, later repeating ir proposal despite continued airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition. offer came after Huthis claimed responsibility for attacks on September 14 against two key Saudi oil installations that temporarily kcked out half of OPEC giant's production. Riyh and Washington, however, blamed Iran for attacks -- a charge denied by Tehran.

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