UN envoy in push for Al Houthi withdrawal
UAE minister briefs ambassadors on operation to liberate Yemeni city of Hodeida
UN special envoy Martin Griffiths yesterday met in the Yemeni capital Sana’a with leaders of Al Houthi militia in a fresh peace bid reportedly based on the Iran-allied militia’s safe withdrawal from the embattled coastal city of Hodeida.
Hodeida in western Yemen is the focus of a massive offensive launched last week by government forces supported by a Saudi-led coalition. Warplanes continued strikes on the port city yesterday. Al Arabiya also reported strikes on the airport.
Griffiths is seeking to convince Al Houthis of peacefully handing over the Red Sea city and its vital port in return for initiating peace negotiations, Yemeni media reported. The international mediator, who arrived in Al Houthi-controlled Sana’a on Saturday, seeks a meeting with militant leader Abdul Malak Al Houthi to discuss his proposals aimed at a peace deal, news portal Aden Al Ghad reported, citing sources close to the group.
Meanwhile, Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, yesterday briefed members of the international diplomatic corps based in Abu Dhabi on the Arab coalition’s operation to liberate the Red Sea port city of Hodeida from Al Houthi control.
Gargash noted that the coalition forces were intentionally moving in a deliberate and responsible way to protect civilians and ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance. “This operation is intentionally calibrated to help UN special envoy Martin Griffiths in his difficult task to persuade the Houthis to unconditionally withdraw from Hodeida and to facilitate its peaceful handover to the legitimate Yemeni government,” he said.
UN Special envoy Martin Griffiths yesterday met in the Yemeni capital Sana’a with leaders of Al Houthi militants in a fresh peace bid reportedly based on the Iran-allied militias’ safe withdrawal from the embattled coastal city of Hodeida.
Hodeida in western Yemen is the focus of a massive offensive launched last week by government forces supported by a Saudi-led coalition.
Griffiths is seeking to convince Al Houthis of peacefully handing over the Red Sea city and its vital port in return for initiating peace negotiations leading to their inclusion in a national unity government, Yemeni media reported.
The international mediator, who arrived in militantcontrolled Sana’a on Saturday, seeks a meeting with militant leader Abdul Malak Al Houthi to discuss his proposals aimed at a peace deal, news portal Aden Al Ghad reported, citing sources close to the militant group.
Hodeida is strategically important because it has a harbour, which is a lifeline for millions of Yemenis. Most commercial imports and relief supplies enter through it.
Al Houthis have been in control of Hodeida since their 2014 coup against the internationally-recognised government.
The Arab Coalition accuses Al Houthis of using the Hodeida port to obtain weapons from their Iranian patrons as well as confiscate aid intended for Yemenis in order to sustain their war efforts.
‘Tireless determination’
The UAE, a leading partner to the Arab coalition, has voiced backing for Griffiths’ current efforts.
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash said his country and the coalition appreciate the UN envoy’s “tireless determination” to persuade Al Houthis to lay down their weapons and enter into “meaningful” political talks.
“We and all of Yemen would welcome good news out of Sana’a. We encourage the envoy’s efforts to facilitate the safe handover of Hodeida to the legitimate Yemeni Government,” Gargash said on his Twitter account.
“The people of Hodeida urgently want to be liberated. The coalition will continue with its military and humanitarian preparations to achieve this.”
On Wednesday, Yemeni forces, backed by coalition air power, kicked off their offensive, dubbed “Golden Victory”, aimed at retaking Hodeida, a city of around 600,000 people, from Al Houthis.
Since then, coalition-backed forces have since made swift territorial advances. The city’s airport, around 10 kilometres from the harbour, is almost completely in their control.
Yesterday, government forces were engaged in fierce fighting against Al Houthis holed up in the western side of the airport after seizing large parts of the sprawling facility.
Coalition jets also mounted air strikes on the airport the Dubai-based television Al Arabiya reported.
The Yemeni army said that its forces were combing the airport for remaining militants.
The complete capture of the facility is expected to take time due to mines Al Houthis have planted to hamper the forces’ progress, field sources said.
Hodeida lies 230 kilometres from Sana’a, which Al Houthis seized in a coup in 2014.
This prompted a Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen the following year, aimed at restoring the internationally-recognised government of exiled President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The Governor of Hodeida, Al Hassan Taher, has said that government troops have drawn up a plan to partially encircle the city.
“The army troops are working to encircle it from two directions: in the south and south-east with the aim of blocking any supplies to the [Al Houthi] militias from Sana’a and Taiz [in the south],” he told Al Sharq Al Awsat recently.