Houthis Show Confusion over Lenderking’s Peace Proposal

US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, Asharq Al-Awsat
US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Houthis Show Confusion over Lenderking’s Peace Proposal

US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, Asharq Al-Awsat
US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, Asharq Al-Awsat

Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdelsalam tried to implicitly reverse his group’s hasty rejection of a peace proposal put forward by the US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking by retweeting a clarification post by an anchor at Almasirah TV.

In the tweet, the anchor who interviewed Abdelsalam says that Houthi-run Sanaa did not reject Oman-sponsored peace talks, but rather expressed reservations towards the current state of Lenderking’s peace plan.

The anchor also adds that the Iran-backed group is still engaged in discussions regarding the peace plan’s frameworks.

Abdelsalam, in his interview with Almasirah TV on Friday, rushed to reject Lenderking’s proposal and labeled it a “conspiracy” against Houthis.

While Houthis showed remarkable confusion towards the proposal, the internationally recognized Yemeni government renewed its support for efforts to end the war.

Lenderking, speaking at an online forum organized by the Atlantic Council think tank on Friday, reaffirmed that implementing a ceasefire in Yemen must be a priority for all warring sides there.

He noted that the Saudi-led Arab Coalition backing the Yemeni government against coupist militias was ready to truly support peace efforts.

Saudi Arabia's leadership is providing “full support” to the US effort to end the war in Yemen, affirmed Lenderking.

A “sound plan” for a nationwide ceasefire in Yemen has been before Houthi leadership for “a number of days,” but it appears the group is prioritizing a military offensive to take Marib, said Lenderking.

The US envoy said that the Iran-backed militia is giving priority to the campaign to take Marib over “suspending the war and moving relief to the Yemeni people.”

He warned that Yemen “will spiral into greater conflict and instability” without ceasefire progress, and said he will return to the region when Houthis are prepared for talks.

It is worth noting that Houthis are the only party in the Yemeni war that still refuses to make any concessions and continues to escalate its military hostilities, especially in the Marib governorate.



US Says Israel Must Improve Gaza's Humanitarian Situation or Risk Aid

 People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
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US Says Israel Must Improve Gaza's Humanitarian Situation or Risk Aid

 People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
People attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Israel must take urgent steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza to avoid legal action involving US military aid, according to news reports on Tuesday.

"We are writing now to underscore the US government's deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and seek urgent and sustained actions by your government this month to reverse this trajectory," they wrote in an Oct. 13 letter to their Israeli counterparts, posted by an Axios reporter on X, according to Reuters.

The State Department and Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Israel's government also could not be immediately reached for comment.

The report comes as Israeli forces expand operations into northern Gaza amid ongoing concerns about access to humanitarian aid throughout the enclave and civilians' access to food, water and medicine.

US officials earlier this year said Israel may have violated international humanitarian law using US-supplied weapons during its military operation in Gaza.

This week's letter cited Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, which restricts (prohibits) military aid to countries that impede delivery of US humanitarian assistance.

It also cited a National Security Memorandum that US President Joe Biden issued in February that requires the State Department to report to Congress on whether it finds credible Israel's assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.