Manama: Surprising optimism infused the political discussions in this week’s Manama Dialogue in Bahrain over the Al Houthi acceptance of UN Resolution 2216 requiring them to withdraw and disarm.

Esmail Ould Shaikh Ahmad, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Yemen, confirmed to Gulf News that the Al Houthis have accepted the UN resolution, which requires them to withdraw from occupied territory and surrender their heavy weapons.

He also confirmed that Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi had agreed on October 19 to attend upcoming peace talks, which are slated to take place by mid-November.

The agenda will be based on UN Resolution 2216 and on the basis of earlier breakthroughs at the Yemeni National Dialogue.

On Saturday, Saudi foreign minister Adel Al Jubeir expressed optimism that the conflict was entering its final phase. However, some delegates attending the security conference voiced skeptism over the success of the UN-sponsored talks.

“We have heard them agree to such conditions in the past with no change on the ground,” said one delegate who requested anonymity.

US Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Blinken, who on Saturday welcomed progress in Yemen, refused to reveal to Gulf News the nature of US involvement and support in Yemen.

Meanwhile, Later Crispin Blunt, Chairman of Britain’s House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said that the British government is about to announce its new request to the House of Commons to extend British action against Daesh, from Iraq into Syria.

He expressed some doubt to the closing plenary session that eight Tornadoes 16 hours away in Cyprus would make much difference to the fight against Daesh or indicate any serious commitment on behalf of the British government. He also added to the growing debate on how to find a political solution in Syria by saying that the international coalition supporting the opposition should stop setting conditions about Syrian President Bashar Al Assad leaving office.

“The regime will not take part in talks if we insist on that conditition,” said Blunt. “We need the regime to take part in the talks, even if we all know that we want Al Assad to go in the end.”

A further suggestion was that there needs to be quiet coordination between the region’s major powers to include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Egypt in meetings at the official level even if not at ministerial or public levels so that they can coordinate and find the right places to compromise so that future policies can be driven forward.