ISTANBUL

Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have "disagreements" on the conflict in Yemen, Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi said Tuesday.

"We disagreed (with the UAE) on the question of the war in Yemen (..) Our position was clear as we declared before: we don't push forward and cause wars or disputes," bin Alawi told Russia Today channel.

"They have an opinion and their opinion is respected, and they have aspirations," he said, affirming that "their aspirations should be governed (..) disciplined to be achieved."

The top Omani diplomat said his country's policy towards its neighbors, especially the UAE, has always been based on "understanding, stability and overcoming differences."

Oman had been playing a role in an effort to heal the rift between the parties to the Yemeni conflict, hosting several meetings in the capital Muscat to reach a solution to the 5-year conflict.

Yemen has been wracked by violence since 2014, when the Shia Houthi group overran much of the country and the crisis escalated in 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.

Saudi Arabia and Sunni allies accuse the Houthis of acting as a proxy force for Shia Iran.

Tens of thousands of people, including civilians, are believed to have been killed and the UN estimates that around 14 million Yemenis are at risk of famine.