Britain Says Consultations between UN Yemen Envoy, Houthis are ‘Positive’

A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)
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Britain Says Consultations between UN Yemen Envoy, Houthis are ‘Positive’

A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)

British Ambassador to Yemen Michael Aron described as “positive” the consultations between United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The consultations are based on the initiative Griffiths had presented to achieve a comprehensive settlement to end the conflict, which erupted five years ago when the Houthis staged a coup against the legitimate government.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the ambassador said the talks between Griffiths and the Houthis are being held in “positive” circumstances.

He believed that the envoy was “optimistic”, adding that he was in contact with all parties. Aron said he was expecting “good news” to come from these efforts.

While waiting for this news, Aron called on the legitimate government, Houthis and Southern Transitional Council (STC) to show “greater responsibility” given the “very, very bad” conditions the country is enduring, hoping that they would move forward towards a comprehensive settlement.

He cited the ongoing fighting in Marib, Abyan and Hodeidah, saying it was unacceptable in wake of the dire humanitarian situation, the novel coronavirus outbreak and other crises.

On efforts to implement the Riyadh Agreement between the legitimate government and STC, the ambassador also described the circumstances as positive, but said he hoped the legitimacy would present some positive steps from its end.

He spoke of the need for “flexibility” from both parties, saying that Saudi Arabia has a good plan.

He stressed the need for the STC to end its declaration of self-rule, adding that he “understands” the issues that are being proposed in the interim capital Aden, but there is a need today for the legitimate government to return to the city.

The Riyadh Agreement must be implemented so that a new government can be appointed, he suggested, reiterating the need for flexibility from both parties for positive results to be reached on the ground.



28 Palestinians Including Children Killed in Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the destruction at a makeshift displacement camp following a reported incursion a day earlier by Israeli tanks in the area in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza strip on July 11, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Palestinians inspect the destruction at a makeshift displacement camp following a reported incursion a day earlier by Israeli tanks in the area in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza strip on July 11, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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28 Palestinians Including Children Killed in Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the destruction at a makeshift displacement camp following a reported incursion a day earlier by Israeli tanks in the area in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza strip on July 11, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Palestinians inspect the destruction at a makeshift displacement camp following a reported incursion a day earlier by Israeli tanks in the area in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza strip on July 11, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including four children, hospital officials said Saturday.

The children and two women were among at least 13 people who were killed in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, after Israeli airstrikes pounded the area starting late Friday, officials in Al-Aqsa Martyr's Hospital said. Another four people were killed in strikes near a fuel station, and 15 others died in Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to Nasser Hospital.

The Israeli military said in a statement that over the past 48 hours, troops struck approximately 250 targets in the Gaza Strip, including militants, booby-trapped structures, weapons storage facilities, anti-tank missile launch posts, sniper posts, tunnels and additional Hamas infrastructure sites. The military did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment on the civilian deaths.

The Hamas-led group killed some 1,200 people in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and abducted 251. They still hold 50 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, which is under Gaza’s Hamas-run government, doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. The UN and other international organizations see its figures as the most reliable statistics on war casualties.

US President Donald Trump has said that he is closing in on another ceasefire agreement that would see more hostages released and potentially wind down the war. But after two days of talks this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu there were no signs of a breakthrough.