Saudi Arabia holds direct talks with Houthis in Amman

Saudi Arabia has reversed its longstanding policy and held direct talks with Yemen's Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) in Amman, Jordan. The negotiations excluded the internationally recognized Yemeni government, which the Houthis dismiss as a Saudi-funded puppet regime. This represents a significant shift as Riyadh previously refused to engage directly with the Houthis and instead positioned itself as a mediator between them and the Yemeni government. The Houthis have long insisted that Saudi Arabia is the real party to the conflict in Yemen, not the Yemeni government.