Pompeo, Mattis call for Yemen ceasefire, talks!

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

• Mike Pompeo urged a ceasefire, specifically citing missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and the UAE from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The Trump administration is calling for an urgent halt to the war in Yemen and the start of negotiations in November towards a political settlement of a conflict that has pushed millions to the brink of starvation in the Arab world's poorest country.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged a ceasefire, specifically citing missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and the UAE from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The Houthis are supported by Iran. He added the air strikes by the Arab coalition, backed by the US, "must cease in all populated areas in Yemen"."The time is now for a cessation of hostilities," Pompeo said in a written statement on Tuesday evening shortly after Defence Secretary Jim Mattis made similar statements in an appearance at the United States Institute of Peace. Mattis said a ceasefire should take effect within 30 days.

"We're calling on all the parties, specifically the Houthis and the Arab coalition, to meet in Sweden in November and to come to a solution," Mattis said.