Pompeo, Bahrain's Crown Prince Discuss Need To Resolve Yemen Conflict - State Dept

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to discuss the need to resolve the ongoing conflict in Yemen, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2018) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to discuss the need to resolve the ongoing conflict in Yemen, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Wednesday.

"The Secretary and the Crown Prince discussed the importance of reaching a political solution in Yemen, countering the Iranian regime's malign influence in the region, and other bilateral and regional issues," Nauert said in a readout of the phone call.

Bahrain belongs to the Saudi-led coalition that has been battling the rebel Houthi movement since 2015 on behalf of the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.�

The conflict has resulted in a huge civilian death toll, as well as an acute humanitarian disaster and outbreaks of cholera across the country.

Rights groups, including HRW, have criticized the coalition's campaign in Yemen over its contribution to the suffering of the civilian population.

In September, the United Nations attempted to hold peace talks between the warring parties in Geneva, but the negotiations never took place, with the Houthi side claiming that the coalition had prevented them from leaving the country. The coalition said the Houthi delegates were free to leave Yemen, but failed to use the opportunity.

Another attempt to hold talks could take place soon, as the United Nations said in late October that it was awaiting answers from the three sides on whether they would attend peace talks in Sweden within 30 days.