Grundberg in Riyadh to Discuss Expanding Yemen Truce

United Nations envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg. (AFP file)
United Nations envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg. (AFP file)
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Grundberg in Riyadh to Discuss Expanding Yemen Truce

United Nations envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg. (AFP file)
United Nations envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg. (AFP file)

United Nations envoy to Yemen Hans Grunberg arrived in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to expand the truce in the war-torn country.

The nationwide truce is set to expire on October 2. It was first adopted in April and has since been twice renewed for a two-month period each time.

Official sources said Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber met with Grundberg on Monday.

Jaber stressed Saudi Arabia’s support to the UN’s efforts to expand the truce with the aim of reaching a comprehensive ceasefire and political solution.

Grundberg had suggested to the Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthis four proposals to expand and improve the truce, including extending it for more than two months at a time.

He has yet to receive responses to his proposals.

In his latest statements, he remarked that results cannot be reached “if there is no political will on the part of the Yemeni parties, and this is necessary for success.”

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and government are not opposed to making concessions that will favor people living in areas controlled by the Houthis, however, the militias’ failure to commit to their pledges regarding the reopening of routes to besieged Taiz city remain a main obstacle in the extension of any truce.

The Houthis, for their part, continue to impose new conditions with the aim of achieving political and economic gains. They have already exploited the truce to loot resources and oil derivatives revenues at Hodeidah port and recruit new fighters.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam Flita recently suggested that the militias may impede Grundberg’s latest proposals if Sanaa International Airport is not reopened without any restrictions.

He also suggested that the UN monitoring mechanism at Hodeidah port be removed.

The Yemeni government estimates that the Houthis managed in the past six months to reap 200 billion rials (a dollar is worth around 560 rials in militia-held regions) from oil derivatives revenues at Hodeidah port.

These funds have all gone towards the militias’ military efforts and recruitment of new fighters in preparation of a new round of fighting.

Moreover, the army has accused the Houthis of committing thousands of violations of the truce that have killed and injured around 1,200 civilians and soldiers.



Egypt Tightens Measures to Prevent Another Crisis of Illegal Hajj Pilgrims

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Tightens Measures to Prevent Another Crisis of Illegal Hajj Pilgrims

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt is intensifying its measures to prevent another crisis of illegal Hajj pilgrims, which had taken place in 2024 when thousands of people exploited visas to enter Saudi Arabia to illegally perform the Hajj.

Egyptian authorities had warned companies against flying travelers without the right visa. Coordination and communication are ongoing with Saudi authorities over the issue.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received in Riyadh Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei for talks on the measures Cairo is taking ahead of the upcoming Hajj season to avoid another crisis.

Egypt has formed a committee, headed by the prime minister, to manage the Hajj crisis.

A statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the ambassador stressed that firm measures will be taking against companies that commit violations related to the Hajj.

Last week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi formed a “crisis cell” that has referred 16 officials from a tourism company to the general prosecution for Hajj violations.

Egyptian authorities have hailed Saudi Arabia for providing all forms of support to legal pilgrims during the Hajj.

Member of the parliamentary tourism committee Ahmed Idriss said state agencies have taken measures to avert a new Hajj crisis in 2025.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said efforts have focused on combating fake entities that claim to be organizing Hajj trips, and on coordinating with Saudi authorities to crackdown on violators.