Possible Deal Reached Between Yemeni President, Rebels
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Photo by Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images(SANA’A, Yemen) — A deal has been reached between the Yemeni government and the Shia Houthi rebels, one day after the rebels had taken over the presidential palace.
Days of fighting had put the capital city of Sana’a in chaos. On Wednesday, the two sides agreed to a deal under which the Houthis will recognize President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi as the legitimate leader.
Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier in the day that he was watching the situation “extremely closely” and that he would attend a meeting at the White House later in the day to discuss it.
According to the State Department, the U.S. has been in touch with President Hadi.
At a briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday, spokesman Col. Steve Warren acknowledged that two U.S. ships are positioned in the Red Sea and “stand ready to respond if needed.”
“Between those two warships, there is enough combat power to [handle] whatever situation is needed,” Warren said. He did acknowledge that the situation in Yemen is “a concern.”
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