Houthis refuse an US ceasefire suggestion in Yemen
On Friday, the Iran-backed Houthis refused a US suggestion for a ceasefire in Yemen, as the State Department criticized the group for obstructing the movement of goods and money to civilians.
Washington participates in diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the long war in Yemen, as the Biden administration took a hostile position on Saudi Arabia since that it was starting office.
In fact, the president Joe Biden selected Tim Lenderking as his special envoy for Yemen who is returned recently from a three-week visit to the region, where he gathered with regional officials, including Houthi representatives, and he said, on Friday, that the US had presented a suggestion to the Houthis for a ceasefire a number of days ago. Nevertheless, the Houthis rapidly refused what they named the US proposal.
A Houthi spokesman informed a Yemen TV channel based in Beirut that there was no real change toward finishing the war. He claimed that what has been referred to as the American proposal doesn’t include lifting the siege or a ceasefire.
Houthis obstructs move of money and goods
In this context, State Department Spokesman Ned Price criticized the Houthis for continuing to impede the move of money and goods to Yemen.
Price informed reporters in a phone briefing: Unfortunately, we know that the Houthis continue to impede that flow, including diverting money from imports that were intended for civil service salaries, in direct violation of their obligations under an UN-brokered agreement.
He also said that fuel imports are being diverted by the Houthis and this one of the many ways they are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
