Omani delegation in Yemen to revive truce negotiations

An Omani delegation has arrived in the Yemeni capital to potentially revive talks aimed at the extension of a truce between Sana'a and a Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which invaded the Arab world's poorest country in 2015.

The Omani team reached Sana'a on Thursday, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, head of the Yemeni national negotiating delegation, was quoted by Yemen's al-Masirah television network as saying.

"The Omani delegation will consult with the Yemeni leadership, assess the current situation, and resume negotiations," the Yemeni official noted.

Saudi Arabia and some of its allies began the invasion in March 2015 after the Yemeni popular resistance movement of Ansarullah took control of Yemen's affairs in the absence of a functioning government.

The invaders, which have enjoyed full-on arms, logistical, and political support on the part of the United States, have been seeking to restore Yemen's power to its former Riyadh- and Washington-friendly officials.

Although the coalition has failed to achieve any of its goals, the war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis and turned the entire country into the scene of what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

A UN-brokered truce entered into force in Yemen last year, prompting the country to enjoy a six-month-long lull. The agreement, however, was not renewed after it expired on October 2.

"The visit by the Omani delegation to Sana'a is among efforts to continue moving negotiations with the US-Saudi delegation," Abdul-Salam said.

He, meanwhile, asserted that "negotiations must start with humanitarian issues..."

SS