US, Saudi Arabia Discuss Steps to Resume Political Transition in Yemen

US President Barack Obama and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud discussed the United Nations resolution imposing an arms embargo on the Houthi rebels in Yemen and ways to restore the political process in the country, the White House said in a statement.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Obama and King Salman underscored the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people, according to the White House.

“The President [Obama] and [Saudi] King Salman discussed the recent adoption of a resolution on Yemen in the United Nations Security Council and next steps in the effort to resume the political transition in Yemen, including talks facilitated by the United Nations,” the statement, issued on Friday, said.

On April 14, 2015, the UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on the Houthi rebels. The Council also left it to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to negotiate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen.

#Yemen: @UNOCHA launches near-$275m humanitarian appeal as fighting intensifies http://t.co/JkZmXI1MK9 via @TR_Foundation

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) 18 апреля 2015

Since March 26, 2015 a coalition headed by Saudi Arabia began a military operation against Houthi rebel positions in Yemen, at the request of Yemen’s ousted President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

#Yemen food security map: yellow: stressed; orange: crisis; red: emergency http://t.co/P4AwyhN9Sv pic.twitter.com/LHl9mlN4TX

— FAO Newsroom (@FAOnews) 17 апреля 2015

Yemen is engulfed in a violent conflict between the Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Hadi.

US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said on April 15, 2015 that the ongoing military campaign in Yemen aims to restore political dialogue as military solution to the crisis is not viable.

NEW VIDEO: Huge explosion in Faj Attan #Sanaa a few minutes ago #Yemen — @alasaadim pic.twitter.com/pY7pdIwUVm

— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) 17 апреля 2015