The US State Department revealed that Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized Yemeni government are ready to agree to a ceasefire and negotiate to end the conflict with all parties - including the Houthis - based on the consultations conducted by the US special envoy to Yemen Timothy Lenderking.

The US State Department indicated that the United States and the United Nations are urging all parties to start dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations, explaining that ending the conflict in Yemen is a priority for President Joe Biden.

The State Department suggested a timeframe in which issues - such as the ports issue - would be resolved quickly.

She added that the Houthis should demonstrate an intention to abide by a comprehensive ceasefire throughout Yemen and to enter into negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations.

Forces in Marib, where fighting rages (Reuters)

cease-fire

For his part, Yemeni government spokesman Rajeh Badi said that any negotiation must be based on the Security Council resolution and the outcomes of the dialogue and the Gulf initiative.

In a statement to Al-Jazeera, Badi considered that the Houthis had violated the agreement that regulated the entry of oil ships into Hodeidah, and said, "We are with a permanent ceasefire in Yemen and a political solution."

For his part, a member of the political council of the Houthi group, the Assad belt, said - in a statement to Al Jazeera - that there are no sincere intentions of the American administration to solve the Yemen crisis, calling on it to "lift the siege on the Yemenis."

Al-Assad added, "We are in a position to defend ourselves, and we are in favor of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Yemen."

An explosion in Marib

Meanwhile, Yemeni local sources said that a powerful explosion rocked the city of Ma'rib due to the fall of a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis, while the Yemeni army said that it took control of Jabal Jasha, the strategic mountain in the district of Haifan, southeast of Taiz governorate, and a number of sites in its vicinity in the district of Haifan, southeast of the governorate. It also repelled a Houthi attack on the Madarat area, west of the city, and destroyed a military vehicle for them.

Houthi media reported that the coalition aircraft launched 36 raids on sites in Yemeni Marib, and local and military Yemeni sources reported that fierce battles are taking place in the outskirts of the Hilan Mountains in the Sarwah district northwest of the city of Marib, following a continuous attack by the Houthis two days ago against the Yemeni army positions.

She added that the Houthis had taken control of two army posts during their attack, which began a counterattack to retake them.

Military sources stated that the Saudi-Emirati coalition aircraft launched raids targeting Houthi sites and vehicles in the Sarwah district, west of the Ma'rib governorate.

Renewed clashes

In Taiz, clashes have renewed between the Yemeni army and the Houthi militia in the eastern front of the city and the al-Arbaeen front in the north.

Kidnapping

On the other hand, a Yemeni government official said that the UAE-backed Security Belt Forces kidnapped the Director of the Office of the Governor of Marib, Muhammad al-Bazli, and other officials of the local authority two weeks ago in Abyan Governorate, in southern Yemen.

The official stated that the Security Belt Forces kidnapped the Acting Director of the Education Office, the Deputy Director of the Agriculture Office, and an employee from the Water and Sanitation Office while they were traveling to Aden to meet a UN delegation.