Yemen – UK report highlights US-Saudi efforts to resolve Taiz crisis
In light of the escalation of serious Houthi violations, the breach of the truce, and the disruption of any peace efforts, international demands for a solution to the Yemeni crisis escalated with huge Arab support, which was widely praised in the media. The British newspaper, the Independent, highlighted this in its latest report.
The British newspaper pointed to the Arab efforts led by Saudi Arabia to resolve the crisis in Yemen, which has entered its eighth year, appreciating the Kingdom’s efforts in this regard. The Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense, Prince Khaled bin Salman, stressed the importance of the role that the United Nations and the international community have to pressure the Houthi coup militias to engage seriously, within the peace efforts to put an end to the war, including the lifting of the siege on the city of Taiz, which they are besieging.
This came during a meeting yesterday between Prince Khaled bin Salman and the American special envoy to Yemen, Tim Linderking, in the American capital. The two discussed the Yemeni issue and its current developments, in addition to confirming the aspirations of his country, the leader of the Arab coalition, to reach a comprehensive political solution, whereby the country will move to security and stability.
In a tweet to the Saudi minister, he explained: “I met in Washington with the U.S. special envoy for Yemen, Tim Linderking, to discuss Yemen and its developments. I assured him of the support of the Saudi-led coalition, the Yemeni Presidential Command Council and the entities supporting it, and our aspirations for a comprehensive political solution that will move Yemen to peace and development”.
“In his briefing, the Deputy Minister of Defense touched on the latest developments in the military issue in light of the UN truce, which was welcomed by the legitimacy and the Arab coalition supporting it, in light of the accusations of the Houthis‘ violation and procrastination in implementing the required obligations”. He said, “I assured him that despite the highly positive truce declared, there is an important role that the United Nations and the international community should play to pressure the Houthi militias to open the roads of Taiz, deposit the revenues of the port of Hodeida, and engage seriously in the peace efforts, so that Yemen can move to security and stability”.
On Wednesday, Prince Khaled bin Salman met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Washington, to review the Saudi-US partnership and strategic aspects of cooperation in the defense and military fields existing and future between the two countries.
The meeting is important at a time when the United States is trying to improve relations with Saudi Arabia and persuade it to increase its oil production, and before President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit to the Middle East at the end of June. The Saudi Arabian Oil Ministry, however, is not alone in its desire to discuss the issue with Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak met with Brett McGirk, the White House’s General Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, to discuss the latest political developments and efforts to achieve peace in Yemen.
During the meeting, Mubarak’s son presented a comprehensive review of the steps and concessions made by the Yemeni government to make the truce agreement, which was sponsored by the United Nations in Yemen, a success. He said that the government, under the directives of the Presidential Command Council, was keen to do everything possible to make the truce a success and to implement the commitments of the government side, which culminated in the resumption of flights to and from Sanaa airport.
“However, the Houthi militias are still delaying the implementation of their respective commitments, especially those related to lifting the siege imposed on Taiz city for more than seven years, refusing to open crossings, facilitating the movement of citizens, and alleviating the humanitarian crisis”, he said.
The Yemeni minister warned against Iranian interference in his country’s affairs.
“If there is no real pressure on the Iranian regime to stop its interference in Yemeni affairs, the war will continue, and its damage and repercussions will not be limited to Yemen, but will worsen at the regional and international levels as well, especially by threatening the security of international navigation and the security of global energy”, he said.
The newspaper noted that the Houthis have imposed a stifling siege on Taiz city (the center of a governorate of the same name), which has been under government control since the outbreak of the conflict in 2015, and are preventing humanitarian relief convoys from reaching the population and those affected by the war, which the group denies.
It also called on the international community to put pressure on the Houthi militias and their supporters to stop the prolongation of the war and the resulting increase in the suffering of Yemeni citizens and threatening the stability of neighboring countries, the region and the sea lanes.
The UN announced a two-month humanitarian truce in Yemen at the beginning of April, which includes a comprehensive halt to military operations, the opening of Sanaa airport to specific destinations, the entry of fuel ships into Hodeida port, the lifting of the Houthi siege imposed on Taiz province seven years ago, and the opening of land crossings between Yemeni cities, she said.
Sanaa International Airport has been under the control of the Houthi group since late 2014. In 2016, the Yemeni government and the coalition suspended their air activities after accusing Houthi of using it for military and illegal activities, a claim denied by the militias, which are described as terrorist groups, according to the latest statement of the Security Council.
These violations come as the UN truce in Yemen nears its end, amidst the possibility of a permanent ceasefire and the start of a revival of the political dialog process that has been practically stalled since the signing of the Swedish agreement on Hodeida in 2018.
