US in Talks with Ansarullah to End Saudi Quagmire in Yemen - Reports

By Staff, Agencies 

In a bid to end Saudi Arabia's five-year quagmire in Yemen, reports suggested that the United States started talks with Ansarullah movement.

"We are narrowly focused on trying to end the war in Yemen," US assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, David Schenker, told reporters on Thursday during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

He further stated: "We are also having talks to the extent possible with the Houthis to try and find a mutually accepted negotiated solution to the conflict.”

For his part, Ansarullah official Hamid Assem said he could neither confirm nor deny whether the rebels were in talks with Washington.

"That the United States says they are talking to us is a great victory for us and proves that we are right," he said.

Last week, the US-based Wall Street Journal reported that Washington was trying to convince Saudi Arabia to take part in secret talks with Ansarullah leaders in Oman.

The US, the United Kingdom and France have offered support and sold weapons to the Saudi-led coalition, with the US specifically offering intelligence and logistical aid.