This is an unexpected announcement by Yemeni Houthi rebels on the occasion of the five-year anniversary of the capture of the capital Sanaa. Against all odds, they declared Friday, September 20, to be ready to make peace by stopping attacks on Saudi Arabia, as their Iranian ally faces enormous pressure for its alleged involvement in the destruction of oil infrastructure Saudi.

In a speech, the president of the Houthi Political Council, Mehdi Machat, said that they were considering "the cessation of all attacks against the territory of Saudi Arabia", hoping that "this gesture will be answered by a stronger gesture "from the Saudis.

It is, according to Mehdi Machat, whose remarks have been reported by the Al-Massirah television rebels, an initiative "to achieve peace through serious negotiations to achieve a comprehensive national reconciliation that 'exclude nobody' It urges the rebels to "stop all attacks on Saudi territory by drones, ballistic missiles and other means".

"To continue the war is in nobody's interest"

The Houthis have loudly claimed the attacks of September 14 against Saudi oil installations in the east of the country that have halved the oil production of the kingdom, the world's largest exporter, and cause a surge in prices . Beyond that, it revived fears of a military clash between the United States and Iran, accused by Washington of being responsible for these attacks.

The Yemeni announcement is in total contradiction with the posture taken so far by the Houthis who were in a position of defiance and who have threatened in recent days to launch new attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"We expect from this initiative a better response that includes stopping all attacks and all air raids in our territories" by the Military Coalition led by Ryad, the rebel leader added.

"Pursuing the war is not in anyone's interest," he said, calling for the reopening of Sana'a International Airport and free access to Hodeida's strategic port in western Yemen. essential for the delivery of humanitarian aid and imports.

The coalition stepped in to support the Yemeni government in 2015 when President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled into exile in Saudi Arabia as the rebels approached his latest shelter, Aden, Yemen's second largest city.

Strong tensions after the attack on Saudi Arabia

The conflict has left tens of thousands dead, most of them civilians, and plunged the country into the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the UN.

The attacks claimed by the Houthi rebels caused a fire a week ago at two sites in the eastern kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the Abqaiq plant, the world's largest for oil processing, and the oil field. Khurais. They led to a halving of Saudi output, about 6% of global supply.

The attack has been described as an "act of war" by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who was sent by President Donald Trump to the region to probe Saudi and UAE leaders over a possible response to Iran .

Pentagon chief Mark Esper announced Friday that reinforcements have been sent to the Gulf region at the request of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. "In response to the demands of the kingdoms, the president has approved the deployment of US forces, which will be defensive by nature, and mainly focused on the air force and missile defense," he said.

With AFP and Reuters