From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Turkey offers to help facilitate talks in Yemen crisis
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Turkey is ready to help with dialogue between Yemen’s factions, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the Saudi crown prince in a phone call today, his office says.
Yemen has been at war since the Iran-backed Houthi rebel terror group ousted the government in 2014, triggering a Saudi-led military intervention.
But a new internal conflict involves rival armed factions loosely grouped under the government but separately backed by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Erdogan told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the phone call that Turkey “is ready to contribute to efforts aimed at bringing parties together,” according to his office.
Ankara is closely monitoring developments in both Yemen and Somalia, Erdogan said, adding that the preservation of the territorial integrity of the two countries was vital for regional stability. Israel recognized the breakaway territory of Somaliland as a nation late last month.
The phone call comes a day after Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry called for Yemen’s southern factions to attend a “dialogue” in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have for years supported various factions within Yemen’s government-run territories, intervening in the neighboring country’s long-running civil war.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.