RIYADH — In an effort to unite forces against Iran-backed Houthi militia, Saudi Arabia is making overtures to the Southern Transitional Council to join the government led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, according to news reports, citing official sources in the Saudi government. The Saudi move is aimed at ending the standoff in order to facilitate efforts to protect and ramp up the fragile health sector in southern Yemen amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this year, the STC pulled out of the Riyadh Agreement and declared self-rule in Aden, interim seat of Hadi government, and in other southern regions. According to a Reuters report citing three sources, Saudi Arabia has proposed a power-sharing deal in a bid to bring together allies against the Houthi militia. The proposal calls for a ceasefire in Abyan province and for the STC to call off the emergency rule. In return, the government led by President Hadi would appoint a governor and security head for Aden, and name a prime minister to form a Cabinet that would include the STC. The STC would then remove its forces from Aden and redeploy in Abyan, following which the new government would be formed.