US to Saudi Arabia and the UAE: Improve relations to fight the Houthis

The US has sent a message to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates urging reconciliation regarding Yemen, in order to establish a regional military alliance against the advancing Houthis. Relations between the countries hit a low after UAE-backed separatist forces were bombed by the Saudi air force. The White House calls for setting aside differences and enabling a unified military command.

In recent days, the United States has sent a message to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, calling on them to reconcile regarding Yemen in order to establish a unified regional military alliance against the advancing Houthis, according to the British Guardian. The appeal comes amid an unprecedented deterioration in relations between the two countries, after earlier this year UAE-backed separatist forces (STC) were bombed by Saudi air force planes. The attack was intended to suppress an attempt by the separatists to split Yemen. However, the success of the Houthi attack on the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the past month forced Saudi Arabia to reconsider, as it became clear that it alone could not stop the Houthi advance. The White House is privately calling on the UAE and Saudi Arabia to set aside their differences and enable a unified military command, including the separatists. As a reminder, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked US President Donald Trump to order American strikes against the Houthis, but Trump rejected the request.