Three important meetings in Riyadh within a week

reports that Riyadh hosted three pivotal political gatherings this week:

Saudi Consultations: The first session brought together the Saudi ambassador, the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission, and key Yemeni party leaders.

Presidential Council Briefing: In the second, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, met with the same delegation.

National Alliance Talks: The final meeting paired Al-Alimi with representatives from the National Alliance bloc.

Key insights from Shalfis Yemeni sources:

1 Growing popular demand urges a decisive end to Houthi rule—spurred by recent events in Lebanon and Syria—yet neither Yemeni leaders nor their external backers have committed to a clear course of action.

2 Riyadh signaled it won’t back or join a ground offensive under current regional and global conditions, while also warning Yemeni factions to overcome their internal splits and restore unified military and political coordination.

3 Al-Alimi attended alone, underscoring deep fractures within the Presidential Council that hinder regular meetings and collective decision-making.

4 Rumors of impending action on Yemen’s western coast and around Hudaydah were addressed, with Al-Alimi insisting any deployment must be a joint effort, not a single-front initiative.

5 Several attendees noted Donald Trumps planned May 13 regional trip—which could tip the balance toward either escalation or de-escalation in Yemen.

6 Discussions revealed significant cracks in Yemen’s military and political coalitions, a major barrier to launching any broad, unified assault on the Houthis.

7 Despite official denials, reports of a UAE-backed ground push via

prompted Saudi worries about Abu Dhabi carving out its own territorial influence along the western coast.

8 Saudi Arabia remains unwilling to entertain offensive plans until its territory is fully shielded from Houthi missiles and drones—a stance rooted in past experiences and stringent security calculations.

9 Proposed government changes, including replacing the prime minister, were also on the agenda—but no