Al Houthis reject proposal to reopen Sana’a airport
UN mediator seeking confidence-building steps that could lead to ceasefire
RIMBO, Sweden: Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has proposed reopening the Al Houthi-held airport in the capital Sana’a on condition planes are inspected in the airports of Aden or Sayun which are under its control, two government officials said yesterday.
The Al Houthis rejected the proposal floated at UN-sponsored peace talks in Sweden that are aimed at cementing confidence-building measures that could lead to a ceasefire to halt air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition and Al Houthi missile attacks on Saudi cities.
UN mediator Martin Griffiths wants a deal on reopening the airport, shoring up the central bank and securing a truce in Hodeidah, the country’s main port, held by the Al Houthis and a focus of the war after the coalition launched a campaign to capture it this year.