Saudi Arabia has called for Yemen separatists to peacefully withdraw from seized provinces and return control to the Riyadh-backed government. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged restraint and continued diplomacy to achieve a lasting solution, thanking Saudi Arabia and the UAE for their diplomatic leadership. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman specifically asked the Southern Transitional Council to hand over two governorates peacefully to local authorities and national shield forces.