Saudi Arabia Dismisses WSJ Report on Houthi $51 Billion Demand

Saudi Arabia – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Saudi Arabia dismisses a Wall Street Journal report that said Yemen’s Houthi rebels asked the kingdom for $51 billion to stop the fighting. Riyadh has called the story false and without any basis.

Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Ambassador Rayed Krimly spoke out on X. He described the claims as a “pure fabrication by the writers or their alleged sources.”

I categorically deny the claims published by The Wall Street Journal regarding demands made by this militia. All of this is pure fabrication by the writers or their alleged sources. These militias turned against the Yemeni government, caused famine among the Yemeni people, and dragged Yemen into conflicts and agendas that do not serve Yemen and its people. They attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea waterways, civilian and economic targets, and rejected all peace efforts. We also remind the writers that Yemen has a recognized government.

— AMB Dr. Rayed Krimly (@Rayedkrimly) November 5, 2026

Krimly also hit back at the Iran-backed group. He said the Houthis turned against Yemen’s own government and caused famine among the people.

He added that the group dragged the country into conflicts and agendas that do not help Yemen or its citizens.

The Saudi official accused the militia of attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. He said it has also targeted civilian and economic sites and refused every peace effort.

“We also remind the writers that Yemen has a recognised government,” Krimly said.

The WSJ report relied on people briefed on the talks. It said Saudi Arabia reached out to the Houthis to look at a possible deal to end the hostilities.

According to the report, the outreach came after the group attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Houthis also seized land near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint.

The newspaper said the Houthis wanted $51 billion to cover years of Saudi strikes and a long blockade. Other figures were also raised during the talks, the sources said.

The report further claimed the group wanted Saudi Arabia to officially recognise it as the ruler of Yemen.

The report and the denial come as fighting between Riyadh and the Houthis has flared up again. It is linked to the wider conflict in the Middle East.

That conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran. Tehran then struck back across the region.

In July, the Houthis restarted the fighting in Yemen. They let an Iranian plane land despite Saudi control of Yemeni airspace.

The Yemeni government hit back by striking the airport. The exchanges that followed broke down a 2022 truce in the long civil war.

Since then, the Houthis have declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. They have attacked Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and targets inside Saudi territory.