Saudi Arabia denies Houthi $51bn demand to end hostilities, calls WSJ report 'pure fabrication'

Saudi Arabia has denied a Wall Street Journal report of a $51 billion Houthi demand to end hostilities in Yemen. Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly rejected the claim on Thursday in a post on X, calling it fabrication, as fighting between Riyadh and the Houthis continues.

What did the Wall Street Journal report about the Houthi $51bn demand?

The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia approached the Houthis to ask what a negotiated halt to the fighting would require. Citing unnamed sources, it said the group demanded $51 billion and wanted official recognition as Yemen's rulers. Riyadh says the claims are baseless.

The US-based newspaper published its report on Thursday. It did not name the sources behind the claim that Riyadh had sought talks with the rebel group.

How did Saudi Arabia respond to the report?

Krimly said the reported demands had no basis. "All of this is pure fabrication by the writers or their alleged sources," he said in his post on X.

He also accused the Houthis of turning against Yemen's internationally recognized government. According to Krimly, the group has caused famine among the population and dragged the country into conflicts and agendas that do not serve its people.

"They attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea waterways, civilian and economic targets, and rejected all peace efforts. We also remind the writers that Yemen has a recognized government," he said.

Is Saudi Arabia still fighting the Houthis?

Yes. The newspaper's report and Riyadh's denial come amid renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, against the backdrop of the wider Middle East conflict. That regional war erupted on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the region.

In July, the Houthis reignited hostilities in Yemen by allowing an Iranian aircraft to land in defiance of Saudi control over Yemeni airspace. The Yemeni government retaliated by striking the airport, triggering exchanges that unraveled a 2022 truce in the country's long-running civil war.

Since then, the Houthis have declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. They have attacked its tankers in the Red Sea, as well as targets inside Saudi territory.