International efforts in support of the Saudi initiative to resolve the crisis in Yemen have intensified, while the Houthi group revealed contact with the United States through the Sultanate of Oman.

Britain's permanent representative to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, said that her country supports the Saudi initiative because it includes the basic elements to end the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and expressed concern about the continuation of the fighting and held the Houthis responsible.

In turn, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, said he encourages all parties to refrain from actions that harm the mediation efforts of the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.

For his part, US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said - in a press conference - that Washington supports efforts to find a way to reduce violence and end the conflict in Yemen, stressing that the US mission there is to fight ISIS, and that this mission continues.

He added that the United States takes the responsibility of supporting Saudi Arabia very seriously in its defense, without providing further details about the type of assistance that Washington provides to Riyadh in this regard.

The former UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal bin Omar, also welcomed all peaceful initiatives to resolve the crisis in Yemen, and said that there has been no progress in the political process since 2015.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera as part of the "Without Borders" program, Bin Omar added that a lot of time has been wasted on the war and the siege, and that the solution is for the parties to share power.

Via a broker

On the other hand, the Yemeni Houthi group said yesterday that it refused to hold meetings with the UN envoy Martin Griffiths, revealing at the same time that it is communicating with the United States through the Sultanate of Oman.

"We refused the meetings with the UN envoy, Martin Griffiths, because they only took place before his briefing to the Security Council," Houthi spokesman Muhammad Abdul Salam said.

This came in statements made by Abd al-Salam to the Al-Masirah satellite channel, which speaks for the group.

He explained that "the American position differs from one administration to another in terms of method, media consumption and issuance of statements, and in content we have not seen any change" from the new administration.

He revealed that the group was in contact with the Americans "through the Sultanate of Oman, which transmits messages between us and them."

There has been no immediate comment from the United States, the United Nations and Saudi Arabia on the Houthi official's comments.

The Saudi Initiative

On Monday, Saudi Arabia announced an initiative to solve the Yemeni crisis, including a unilateral ceasefire, expressing hope that the Houthis would respond "to preserve Yemeni blood."

The initiative includes a comprehensive ceasefire under the supervision of the United Nations, and the deposit of taxes and customs revenues for ships and oil derivatives from the port of Hodeidah (western Yemen) at the Central Bank.

It also includes the opening of Sanaa International Airport to a number of direct regional and international flights, and the start of consultations between the various parties under the auspices of the United Nations.