Delegation led by Yemen’s most important separatist group to journey to Saudi Arabia, sources say

CAIRO, Jan 5 (Reuters) – A delegation led by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the chief of Yemen’s most important separatist group STC, will quickly journey to Saudi Arabia, two sources informed Reuters on Monday, a possible signal of progress in direction of ending a battle between separatists and Yemen’s internationally recognised authorities.

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The Iran-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014 and Gulf international locations intervened the next 12 months in assist of the internationally recognised authorities, splitting Yemen into rival zones of management.

The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council has for years been a part of that authorities, which controls southern and japanese Yemen and is backed by Gulf states, however final month STC forces out of the blue seized swathes of territory.

Al-Zubaidi’s go to would come days after the internationally recognised authorities stated late on Friday it had requested Saudi Arabia to host a discussion board to resolve the southern situation. Riyadh agreed and prolonged invites to southern factions.

Government forces backed by Saudi airstrikes on Friday and Saturday took again management of the strategically essential Hadramout and Mahra provinces within the east of Yemen.

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