'Thirty days from now we want to see everybody around a peace table based on a ceasefire, based on a pullback from the border and then based on ceasing dropping of bombs that will permit the special envoy ... to get them together in Sweden and end this war.' - Mattis'This week, the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition temporarily eased its blockade on the country to allow a plane carrying 50 wounded rebels to fly to Oman's capital for medical treatment.
In November, Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi called on rebel forces to cease missile and drone strikes against coalition positions at the request of the United Nations.
The discussions in Sweden would almost meet a 30-day deadline set by US Defense Secretary James Mattis in October for face-to-face talks.
"Thirty days from now we want to see everybody around a peace table based on a ceasefire, based on a pullback from the border and then based on ceasing dropping of bombs that will permit the special envoy ... to get them together in Sweden and end this war," Mattis said October 30 at the US Institute of Peace in Washington.'
- Tamara Qiblawi,
Rival sides in Yemen's war to hold first direct talks in years, December 5, 2018
ContextUS calls for ceasefire in Yemen within 30 days'..Positive Peace as a holistic, systemic framework.'