Iran prolongs Yemen conflict with arms support: Western ambassadors
The ambassadors of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom said that Iran’s continued provision of weapons, missiles, and drone systems to the Houthi terrorist militia prolonged the conflict in Yemen, in a statement of the U.S. Gulf Action Group on Iran at the end of its third meeting, and a joint statement of the American, French and British ambassadors accredited to Yemen.
Western ambassadors called on the terrorist group to stop attacks on Yemeni oil facilities.
Worsening humanitarian crisis
The organization stressed that Iran’s continued support for the Houthi militia exacerbated the humanitarian disaster and condemned Iran’s continued destabilizing policies, including its support for terrorism, use of advanced missiles, cyber weapons and unmanned aerial systems, and its deployment in the region and around the world.
“The continued proliferation of these weapons by Iran and their delivery to other parties, whether governmental or non-governmental, poses a serious security threat to the region and the world,” it said.
The role of the Yemeni government
In a joint statement on Thursday, the ambassadors of the United States, France and Britain stressed the pivotal role of the Yemeni government in any sustainable peace in the country.
“The three ambassadors support efforts to establish UN-sponsored Yemen-Yemen talks and a nationwide ceasefire,” the statement said.
The statement called on the Houthi militia “to offer the interests of the people and engage constructively with all parties in their efforts to achieve peace”.
Houthi Attacks
The statement also condemned Houthi attacks on Yemeni infrastructure and other measures that threaten the peace process, cause economic harm to all Yemenis and exacerbate the humanitarian situation.
The ambassadors expressed concern “at the grave humanitarian situation in Yemen, where 17 million of the most vulnerable Yemenis require assistance in 2023,” and called on “all parties to allow freedom of movement and to remove obstacles so that those concerned may have access to those in need, as obstacles, interventions and lack of security continue to limit aid deliveries, requiring its removal in order to avoid the unbearable suffering of the most vulnerable Yemenis.”
Support for the Yemeni government
The Western ambassadors stressed in the statement “the importance of a thriving economy in Yemen, providing employment and livelihood opportunities for the Yemeni people, and providing essential public services.”
They also affirmed “the support of the Presidential Command Council, the government and the Central Bank of Aden by adopting the necessary measures aimed at stabilizing the Yemeni economy”.
Mobilize support
In the statement, the ambassadors pledged to “work with the wider international community to mobilize support for Yemen as urgent economic support is necessary to prevent a further deterioration of the economic situation.” They criticized “the taboo restrictions imposed on women, especially those working in humanitarian areas controlled by the Houthis,” stressing the need to repeal these measures “because they endanger the humanitarian response and constitute a systematic violation of the fundamental rights of women and girls.”
