OFFICIALS from Saudi Arabia were in Yemen’s capital on Sunday for talks with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in an effort to find a peace settlement after nine years of war.

The Saudi delegation, chaired by the kingdom's ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber, met with Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency.

An Omani delegation, which arrived in Sanaa on Saturday, joined the talks, the agency reported. It said al-Mashat hailed Oman’s efforts to bridge the gap between different sides in the war to achieve peace in Yemen.

Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukaiti said earlier on Twitter that Saudi and Omani officials would discuss “ways to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.”

He said achieving an honourable peace between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia would be “a triumph for both parties” and urged all sides to take steps to “preserve a peaceful atmosphere and prepare to turn the page of the past.”

UN envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said it was “the closest Yemen has been to real progress towards lasting peace” since the war began.

“This is a moment to be seized and built on and a real opportunity to start an inclusive political process.”

The talks in Sanaa are part of international efforts led by Oman to settle Yemen’s conflict, which began in 2014 when the Houthis overthrew the government and took control of the capital and most of the north.

Months later a Saudi-led coalition attacked in a bid to restore the exiled government. Hundreds of thousands have perished in the war since, with Saudi Arabia accused of war crimes for bombing hospitals, schools and residential areas.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a draft deal last month to revive a ceasefire that expired in October. 

Efforts have gained momentum in recent weeks after Saudi Arabia reached an agreement with Iran, through China-brokered talks, to restore diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift.

Iran, the main foreign backer of the Houthis, said its deal with Saudi Arabia would help end Yemen’s conflict.

Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, foreign minister in the exiled government, said there were “positive signals” that a ceasefire deal would be announced.