Houthis Demand $51 Billion From Saudi Arabia, Seek Recognition as Yemen's Government

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have demanded $51 billion in compensation to agree to a ceasefire and an end to the conflict with Saudi Arabia. In Bangladeshi currency, the amount is about 650,000 crore taka.

The demand was reported on Thursday (November 5) by the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal. According to the report, alongside the compensation, the Houthis have also set a condition that they be recognised as Yemen's government.

After a long period of attacks and counter-attacks, informal talks are now under way between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, the report said.

Saudi Arabia wants attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea to stop and wants the Houthis to give up their control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Riyadh wants to discuss these issues with the Houthis.

In response, the Houthis demanded the $51 billion in compensation. They say the money is needed to make up for the damage caused in Yemen by more than a decade of Saudi bombing and naval blockade.

The Wall Street Journal also said the amount demanded changed at different stages of the talks.

The condition of recognising the Houthis as a government is a major diplomatic challenge for Saudi Arabia. Such recognition would mean accepting the political authority of the Iran-backed group that controls a large part of Yemen.

Direct conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis began in 2015. Attacks and counter-attacks between the two sides have continued since then.

The report said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wants to strengthen his position on the battlefield before entering full talks with the Houthis. But there is concern within his administration about sending troops to Yemen again, because it could make the conflict bloodier and create pressure inside Saudi Arabia as well.

The Wall Street Journal claimed that several Saudi soldiers have been killed in Yemen, although the Saudi government has not officially said anything about it.

Some Saudi officials fear that if the huge sum the Houthis demand is paid, they could raise tensions again in future to extract money. That, they fear, could create the conditions for a new conflict.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities claimed that Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile targeting Medina, the holy city in western Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led military coalition said the missile was destroyed in the air.

The missile was fired from Yemen on Thursday, officials said. In a message on the social media platform X, coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the ballistic missile fired by the Houthis was destroyed mid-air.