The US and United Nations envoys to Yemen kicked off on Thursday a visit to Riyadh to revive the stalled peace efforts in the war-torn country.
US envoy Tim Lenderking and UN envoy Hans Grundberg held separate meetings with Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi.
Alimi focused during both meetings on the latest developments in Yemen and regional and international efforts to revive peace amid the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ intransigence and threats to international energy routes, said official Yemeni sources.
Alimi underscored the presidential council and government’s efforts in pursuit of peace and positive approach towards the UN-sponsored nationwide truce that was implemented from April to October 2022.
The Houthis refused to extend the truce, leading to its collapse. They followed up their rejection with terrorist attacks on ports and oil facilities that are lifelines to millions of Yemenis, continued Alimi.
He stressed the importance of the international community taking measures to deter the Houthi terrorist threats and flagrant meddling of the Iranian regime in internal Yemeni affairs.
He cited Tehran’s smuggling of banned weapons to Yemen in an effort to transform the country into a platform to threaten international security and peace.
The presidential council reiterated its commitment to establishing comprehensive and lasting peace in Yemen based on the agreed references, he continued. He expressed support to US and UN peace efforts and all other efforts aimed at easing the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people and ending the Houthi coup.
The Houthis meanwhile, have continued to reject UN efforts to renew and expand the truce. Instead, they have threatened to again renew fighting on the battlefield and have threatened to carry out attacks on oil export ports in liberated regions.
Last month, Houthi leader Abdulmalek al-Houthi met with an Omani delegation that sought to persuade the militias to choose peace.
On the ground, relative calm has prevailed at the battlefronts despite the collapse of the nationwide truce.
