Britain Criticizes Houthis Ahead of 3rd Extension of UN Truce

Houthi fighters at an event (EPA)
Houthi fighters at an event (EPA)
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Britain Criticizes Houthis Ahead of 3rd Extension of UN Truce

Houthi fighters at an event (EPA)
Houthi fighters at an event (EPA)

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly accused the Houthis of obstructing the truce extension talks and depriving the Yemenis of peace.

In a statement published by the British Foreign Office, Saturday Cleverly said Yemen must not return to conflict, cautioning that the truce ends on Sunday, “but the Houthis continue to endanger the talks and deny Yemenis a peaceful future.”

Yemeni officials criticized the UN envoy for not holding any meeting of the Road Opening Committee during the second extension period in the past two months, which is the only point that had not seen any progress since April 2022, when the truce was first announced.

The British Foreign Secretary called on the Houthis to engage constructively with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg’s efforts to “broker an extension to the truce, so that serious dialogue about achieving a peaceful, inclusive and Yemeni-led future can take place.”

“The truce has brought tangible benefits to both Yemenis and regional security, and we welcome the Government of Yemen’s commitment to extend it further if an extension can be agreed,” he stated.

The Minister commended the Yemeni government’s commitment to continue delivering the benefits of the truce by enabling Yemeni people to move more freely and safely around Yemen, to access fuel throughout the country, fly in and out of Yemen to visit families and access healthcare, and through restarting payments for civil servants.

He recalled that during the truce period, civilian casualties had fallen dramatically in Yemen, and cross-border attacks by the Houthis into Saudi Arabia and the UAE had stopped.

“The Yemeni people will only experience these benefits beyond Sunday if the parties agree to extend.”

Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, stressed that extending the humanitarian truce is an urgent humanitarian and political necessity, hinting that the opportunity will not come again.

A source in the Yemeni government confirmed that it had received Saturday an updated proposal from Grundberg to extend and expand the armistice.

The source indicated that the Yemeni government is reviewing the updated proposal and will deal with it positively, based on its keenness and efforts to alleviate the human suffering of all our people in all governorates without any discrimination.

He explained that the government is seeking to expand the benefits of the truce and reach all Yemenis, facilitate their movement, and ensure the payment of salaries to alleviate their suffering caused by the Houthi militia.

According to the source, the Yemeni government spares no effort in cooperating with the Special Envoy to overcome the obstacles created by the Houthi militias, despite Houthis’ failure to fulfill their obligations in lifting the siege on Taiz and stopping the looting of Hodeidah ports revenues.

He stressed the Yemeni government’s call for the Security Council and the international community to pressure the Houthi militias to stop their daily deal violations and engage positively with the Special Envoy’s efforts.

The Yemeni government supports the efforts of the Special Envoy to achieve a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace based on the three references, namely the Gulf initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, and Security Council resolutions, according to the source.

Last week witnessed intense efforts to reach an agreement to extend the UN truce for another six months.

Last Thursday, Grundberg left Sanaa after he met Houthi militia leaders amid efforts to renew the truce in Yemen, without commenting on the condition placed by the group on expanding the ceasefire.

In several tweets, the Office of the Special Envoy announced that Grundberg concluded a visit to Sanaa, where he held intense discussions on how to pay salaries for civil servants as well issues around the ports and airport and to maintain calm on the front lines.

Grundberg emphasized that “the renewal and expansion of the truce is a humanitarian imperative and a political necessity. It is also an opportunity that we cannot afford to waste”.

“We have a chance to build on & expand it. But placing the pursuit of peace over war will require courage & leadership from all sides. If there is a return to war, we might not have this opportunity again for a long time.”

Furthermore, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that he over the phone with Grundberg efforts to extend an armistice in Yemen.

In his tweet, Blinken expressed his strong support for the Envoy’s efforts to extend and expand the UN-led truce in Yemen on October 02.

“I also expressed our concerns with recent Houthi actions that obstruct the truce’s benefits from reaching millions of Yemenis.”



Lebanese Army Says It’s Moving Troops into the Country’s South as Part of Ceasefire Plan

A Lebanese army vehicle drives past destruction in Lebanon's southern village of Bint Jbeil on November 27, 2024, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)
A Lebanese army vehicle drives past destruction in Lebanon's southern village of Bint Jbeil on November 27, 2024, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)
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Lebanese Army Says It’s Moving Troops into the Country’s South as Part of Ceasefire Plan

A Lebanese army vehicle drives past destruction in Lebanon's southern village of Bint Jbeil on November 27, 2024, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)
A Lebanese army vehicle drives past destruction in Lebanon's southern village of Bint Jbeil on November 27, 2024, after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. (AFP)

The Lebanese army said on Wednesday it was moving additional troops into the country's south on Wednesday to extend state authority in coordination with the UN peacekeeping mission there.

“The concerned military units are moving from several areas to the South Litani Sector, where they will be stationed in the locations designated for them,” the Lebanese military said in its first statement since the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire went into effect.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israeli troops would pull out of Lebanon and Hezbollah is required to move its forces north of the Litani River, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border.

The ceasefire agreement gives Israel and Hezbollah fighters 60 days to withdraw from areas of southern Lebanon near the border. Thousands of Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers will patrol the area, and an international committee will monitor compliance.

The Lebanese army has largely stood on the sidelines during the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah, although dozens of its soldiers have been killed amid the fighting.

Meanwhile, international aid groups welcomed the ceasefire and urge donors to provide funding to help rebuild parts of Lebanon and assist the displaced.

The aid groups are concerned about the aftershocks of the war on Lebanon’s already struggling economy. With more than 1.2 million people displaced, they warned that the damage would leave many struggling and without homes.

More than 100,000 homes have been either partially or fully destroyed across southern Lebanon, Bekaa and Beirut, the International Rescue Committee said.

Mercy Corps said that half of Lebanon’s population now lives below the poverty line. It called on donors to fulfill pledges to support immediate humanitarian efforts and the long-term recovery.

“There will undoubtedly be a great deal of grief and trauma. Many will have no homes to return to, no schools for their children, and livelihoods destroyed,” Norwegian Refugee Council Secretary-General Jan Egeland said.