Representatives of the legitimate Yemeni government and Houthi militias, will meet for the third round of talks to discuss ending the siege of Taiz and opening the crossings.
The Iran-backed Houthi militia has rejected several proposals of the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, regarding easing the siege of Taiz and opening some roads between the governorates during two previous rounds in Amman, Jordan.
Grundberg hopes to reach an agreement that would allow the extension of the UN truce to six months and include new clauses related to a salary payment mechanism, adding new destinations from Sanaa airport, and allowing more fuel to flow into the port of Hodeidah.
The Yemeni government and Houthi militia leaders had agreed to extend the current truce for the second time and an additional two months until the second of next October, if it would allow time to reach an agreement on opening the crossings and easing the siege on Taiz.
The Houthi media showed pictures of militia representatives as they left Sanaa airport on Thursday evening, and Houthis’ Saba agency claimed that the “military and security” delegation would discuss in the Amman meetings the violations of the truce and the opening of crossings and roads.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin held several meetings with Yemeni officials.
Yemeni official sources said that Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Barakani discussed with Fagin the latest developments in the peace process and the results of the meetings to open roads in Taiz.
During the meeting, Barakani pointed to several challenges, accusing the militias of "the most heinous practices,” including “restricting freedoms, looting wealth, and abolishing democratic practices."
Saba news agency reported that Fagin regrets the recent developments in the country, affirming US support for peace options and Yemen’s unity, stability, and territorial integrity.
Washington also supports the unity of the Presidential Leadership Council headed by Rashad al-Alimi, said the envoy.
According to official sources, the ambassador called on all Yemeni parties to prioritize peace in a way that enables the Yemeni people to live in security and stability, and distance them from conflicts.
During his meeting with the ambassador, Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak reiterated that pressure must be maintained on the Houthis to end the siege of Taiz, open the crossings, stop violations, and pay salaries from fees imposed on fuel shipments arriving at Hodeidah port.
Furthermore, the Yemeni military media accused the militias of launching an attack west of Taiz before the army forces could repel it.
Taiz Military Axis media center said that the forces of the National Army and the Popular Resistance thwarted an infiltration attempt by the Houthis in the al-Ahtoub area of Taiz.
The Yemeni government says that Houthi attacks since the beginning of the truce last April have killed and injured more than 1,000 people.
Last Tuesday, the media reported that the militias committed 143 violations on the fronts of Hodeidah, Taiz, Hajjah, Saada, al-Jawf, and Marib.
The media center of the Yemeni armed forces stated that the army forces repelled more than three Houthi infiltration attempts toward military sites south and west of Marib, and another attempt in the Alab axis, north of Saada.
