US thanks Riyadh for allowing Yemeni pilgrim flights again after years of suspension due to war

Miller: “This positive step is the latest in a series of efforts that have brought relief to the Yemenis”

June 19 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United States government has thanked the Saudi authorities for allowing Yemeni pilgrims to fly into the country after the journey has been suspended due to the war since 2016.

“The United States welcomes the launch of Hajj flights — a pilgrimage to Mecca — between Sana’a — still under the control of the Huthi insurgency — and Jeddah for Yemeni pilgrims,” ​​the State Department spokesman said. , Matthew Miller, in a statement.

“This positive step is the latest in a series of efforts that have brought relief to Yemenis since the UN-sponsored truce began 15 months ago, and we thank Saudi Arabia for allowing the flights,” Miller said.

Miller, however, has pointed out that despite the progress in recent months, “more is needed to achieve a lasting ceasefire and the start of talks” between the parties in Yemen.

The Saudi authorities confirmed this Sunday the arrival of a plane with more than 200 pilgrims with the final destination of Mecca, celebrating the reopening as a new effort by Saudi Arabia, which has led the international coalition against the Huthi insurgency since the start of the war. , to stabilize the situation in Yemen.

The recent normalization of bilateral relations between Riyadh and Tehran, a great ally of the guerrillas, has managed to calm the situation in Yemen in a way that had not been seen in the entire conflict.