The United Arab Emirates denied reports in the media that they were in discussions with the U.S. about a possible offensive in Yemen by military groups against the Houthi Group, which controls most of the country.

Lana Nusseibeh is the UAE's Assistant Minister for Political Affairs. She described these reports as "wild, unsubstantiated tales" in a press release.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Yemeni factions planned a ground assault along the Red Sea Coast to take advantage U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis, and that the UAE raised this plan with U.S. official.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Yemeni troops opposing the Iran-aligned Houthis were in discussions with U.S. allies and Gulf partners about a potential land offensive.

The UAE joined a Saudi-led alliance that began a military operation in Yemen in early 2015, to support a Gulf-backed government in its fight against the Houthis who had taken over the capital Sanaa.

In 2022, the major fighting in Yemen's civil war was halted by a ceasefire and peace talks. The Houthis still control the western part of the country where the majority of Yemenis live.

In November 2023, the Houthis who are close to Iran and oppose Israel began attacking Red Sea ships in a show that they claimed was in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza War.

In March, U.S. president Donald Trump intensified airstrikes on the Houthis, warning that "hell would rain down" if the group did not stop its attacks against shipping.

From 2015, the Houthis, which waged civil wars in Yemen against the government between 2003 and 2009, have remained largely unchanged despite years of bombardment from the Saudi-led alliance.

A major but ultimately unsuccessful attack by forces backed by the coalition on Hodeidah - the largest port controlled by the Houthis - was launched along the Red Sea coast where the Wall Street Journal had reported that Yemeni groups were planning an offensive.

It had to negotiate differences amongst its Yemeni partners, including those who were pro-government and Sunni Muslim Islamist. Analysts say that Saudi Arabia and the UAE supported various factions.

Saudi Arabia ended its campaign in Yemen in 2022 with peace talks and an end to hostilities. This was shortly before it agreed to a diplomatic rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Requests for comment from the Pentagon or Saudi government were not immediately responded to. (Reporting and writing by Maha El-Dahan; editing by Hugh Lawson; Ros Russell, Mark Heinrich, and Hugh Lawson)

(source: Reuters)