The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, is racing against time, hoping to achieve a breakthrough in the Yemeni crisis.
Yemeni sources said the Envoy received the draft peace map to be signed between the Yemeni parties under the auspices of the UN, adding that he made several trips to Oman to meet with the Houthi delegation before returning to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat it was the same peace map discussed last Ramadan that both parties amended. They believe it may have reached a final stage in light of its delivery to the UN envoy.
They indicated that the matters are now in the hands of the UN envoy.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Iran-backed Houthi group, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, threatened the US with a fate similar to what it faced in Afghanistan and Vietnam.
Earlier, the US announced the formation of an international coalition to protect navigation in the Red Sea from the group's escalating attacks.
The Houthi group insisted on attacking international ships in the Red Sea despite the warnings and targeting vessels heading to and from Israel only in support of the Palestinian cause.
The group's attacks led to international shipping companies' collective reluctance to use routes via the Red Sea and head towards the Cape of Good Hope instead, amid fears of delayed supply chains and high shipping and insurance costs.
Houthi downplayed the importance of the US-led coalition, adding that "if that is what America wants, then it will face a harsher situation than that it faced in Afghanistan and Vietnam."
Addressing the group's drones against US missiles, he said that Washington would suffer a significant loss knowing that $2,000 drones target its $2 million missile.
The Houthi leader warned Washington against targeting his group, saying the targeting of US battleships, interests, and navigation routes would match any attack.
- International condemnation
Furthermore, the US government, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and a group representing 44 Allies and partner nations issued a statement on Houthis' recent attacks.
The signatories of the statement said they condemn the Houthi interference with navigational rights and freedoms in the waters around the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the Red Sea.
The statement noted that the numerous attacks originating from Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, including the Dec. 3 attacks against three commercial vessels in the Southern Red Sea connected to 14 nations, threaten international commerce and maritime security.
It indicated that the Houthi-led seizure of the Galaxy Leader on Nov. 19 and the detention of its 25-member international crew – who remain unjustly detained – "is appalling."
"Such behavior also threatens the movement of food, fuel, humanitarian assistance, and other essential commodities to destinations and populations all over the world."
