Three important meetings in Riyadh within a week
Saudi Consultations: The first session brought together the Saudi ambassador, the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission, and key Yemeni party leaders.
Presidential Council Briefing: In the second, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, met with the same delegation.
National Alliance Talks: The final meeting paired Al-Alimi with representatives from the National Alliance bloc.
Key insights from Shalfi's Yemeni sources:
1 Growing popular demand urges a decisive end to Houthi rule—spurred by recent events in Lebanon and Syria—yet neither Yemeni leaders nor their external backers have committed to a clear course of action.
2 Riyadh signaled it won't back or join a ground offensive under current regional and global conditions, while also warning Yemeni factions to overcome their internal splits and restore unified military and political coordination.
3 Al-Alimi attended alone, underscoring deep fractures within the Presidential Council that hinder regular meetings and collective decision-making.
4 Rumors of impending action on Yemen's western coast and around Hudaydah were addressed, with Al-Alimi insisting any deployment must be a joint effort, not a single-front initiative.
5 Several attendees noted Donald Trump's planned May 13 regional trip—which could tip the balance toward either escalation or de-escalation in Yemen.
6 Discussions revealed significant cracks in Yemen's military and political coalitions, a major barrier to launching any broad, unified assault on the Houthis.
7 Despite official denials, reports of a UAE-backed ground push via
prompted Saudi worries about Abu Dhabi carving out its own territorial influence along the western coast.
8 Saudi Arabia remains unwilling to entertain offensive plans until its territory is fully shielded from Houthi missiles and drones—a stance rooted in past experiences and stringent security calculations.
9 Proposed government changes, including replacing the prime minister, were also on the agenda—but no action was taken amid the prevailing political, military, and regional uncertainties.
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