Houthi rebels’ Marib offensive making Yemenis suffer, says US envoy
The US special envoy for Yemen has visited Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, for the first time.
Tim Lenderking and Cathy Westley, the charge d’affaires at the US embassy in Yemen, met Prime Minister Maeen Saeed, Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak and Aden Governor Ahmed Lamlas on Monday.
During their conversations, the US delegation and the Yemeni government discussed how the Iran-backed Houthi rebels’ offensive on Marib was “exacerbating the humanitarian situation and obstructing peace”, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
“The US government calls on regional and other countries to increase economic support for Yemen, noting that improving basic services and economic opportunity is an important step to building a stronger foundation for peace,” Mr Price said.
The US has backed a ceasefire proposed by Saudi Arabia, and Mr Lenderking has tried without success to convince the Houthis to agree to it.
Instead, they have continued their assault on Yemen’s oilrich Marib province.
“The visit comes at a time when Yemenis are suffering from extreme economic instability as well as security threats,” Mr Price said.
He said the US delegation also “urged the Yemeni government to continue to strengthen internal co-ordination, including with the Southern Transitional Council and other groups”.
Mr Lenderking’s visit to Aden follows his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, and the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, in Washington last week.
They discussed the conflict, fuel imports into the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah and the resumption of commercial airline flights to Yemen.