Riyadh (South24) 

A delegation from the Iranian-backed Houthi militia will arrive in Saudi Arabia today, in its first visit to Riyadh since the start of the war, to hold political talks.

Yemeni sources said that a delegation from the Houthis, most likely including the head of the negotiating delegation, Mohammed Abdulsalam, arrived in the city of Riyadh today, accompanied by a delegation from the Sultanate of Oman.

Ali Nasser Qarsha, a senior official close to Abdulmalik Al-Houthi and wanted by the Saudi State Security, said: “Abdulmalik Al-Houthi [the group’s leader] told me that this visit is the last chance".

Late Thursday, the official Saudi Press Agency said that the Kingdom sent "an invitation to a delegation from Sanaa to complete meetings and discussions based on the Saudi initiative announced in March 2021."

A Saudi press source close to officials in the Kingdom said: "The visit of the Houthi delegation to Riyadh represents tangible progress, regardless of its results."

Reuters quoted sources saying that senior Houthi officials arrived in Riyadh on Thursday to hold ceasefire talks with Saudi officials.

Meanwhile, "South24 Center" was informed from Yemeni diplomatic sources that members of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council will head to Riyadh “to hold an important meeting within the next couple of days".

These developments come after a private visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the Sultanate of Oman, last Tuesday. Private sources ruled out to "South24 Center" that Bin Salman’s visit to Muscat had anything to do with the Yemeni file.

An Omani delegation visited Sanaa for three days between August 17 and 20 last year to push forward the direct mediation led by the Sultanate between Riyadh and the Houthis.