Washington's envoy for the Yemeni civil war, Tim Lenderking, is leading diplomatic efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates into alignment on the backdrop of Houthi-Saudi talks in Riyadh, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 18. Lenderking is reportedly aiming to push the two countries to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, though the United Arab Emirates is reportedly hesitant to embrace ceasefire talks that might lead to a full Saudi withdrawal from Yemen, as such a move could embolden the Houthis to renew offensives into the south where Abu Dhabi has allies like the Southern Transitional Council (STC).