Yemen’s Houthi rebels detain at least 9 UN staffers and others in sudden crackdown, officials say
Associated PressJun 20
US Backs Saudis' Effort to Revive Houthi Peace Deal
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The Facts
In an effort to engage Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel, the US has reportedly given unofficial approval to Riyadh to resume the peace process with Yemen's Houthi rebels.
The push for peace talks between Saudis and the Houthis also comes as Washington seeks Riyadh's support to end the Gaza conflict and persuade the Saudis to enter into a bilateral defense pact.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
With its willingness to revive the Saudi-Houthi peace talks, the US is expressing its commitment to peace and regional security. Yet the Houthis continue to escalate while the Iranian regime is seeking to bolster its regional standing by supplying the rebels with massive amounts of weapons. Meanwhile, both remain indifferent to the worsening cholera epidemic in Yemen. Washington is ready to negotiate peace, and it's time for Houthis and Tehran to de-escalate.
Establishment-critical narrative
That the US is now desperately looking to revive the Saudi-Houthi peace process is the final admission of Washington's regional defeat. The Saudi-Israel "normalization efforts" and the Yemen war were part of a US-led geopolitical strategy to reshape the region in favor of Israel. Unfortunately, the Houthis not only foiled this plan, but they also embarrassed the US in the Red Sea. If Washington and the Saudis want peace, they must end their aggression against Yemen and Gaza.
