Lenderking: Trump will not accept continued reckless Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea

US envoy to Yemen Timothy Lenderking warned of the danger of the Houthi military escalation and its repercussions on peace efforts, calling on them to stop their “reckless and random” attacks in the Red Sea.

"The situation in Yemen is very delicate," Lenderking said in an interview on Al Jazeera 360, noting that there is currently a truce and a halt to the violent fighting that has continued for years.

But he warned that “the Houthis’ repression is increasing,” and that “their strategy is beginning to collapse because it has alienated the international community.”

Lenderking criticized the "reckless and indiscriminate" attacks carried out by the Houthis in the Red Sea, which "target navigation and have led to the killing of innocent sailors and the burning and sinking of ships."

"Everyone is tired of this and frustrated with the actions of the Houthis, and they want all these attacks to stop," he said.

The US diplomat called on the Houthis to stop their attacks in the Red Sea, saying: "If we see some rational behavior from the Houthis, we may talk about returning to the peace efforts that the current US administration wants."

Regarding the impact of the war on the Gaza Strip on peace efforts in Yemen, he explained that it had a "negative and major impact," adding that "the Houthis wasted the opportunity for a truce and did not achieve any positive result from it, despite the international community's readiness to move forward in providing humanitarian aid."

The American official stressed that "Gaza needs a ceasefire," considering that "the Houthis are exploiting this conflict in a way that does not benefit the Palestinians."

"We want the Yemenis to be a priority for the Houthis, and that can happen when they stop attacks in the Red Sea, and we return to focusing on peace efforts," he said.

Regarding the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Yemen, Lenderking stressed that "the US administration's goal is to improve the situation and reduce the crisis," noting that "the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have distracted donors from the urgent need in Yemen."

The US envoy criticised the Houthis' move to arrest more than 100 humanitarian workers in Yemen, stressing that "this is offensive and harmful to Yemenis."

Regarding the future of Yemen in light of the change in the US administration from President Joe Biden to President-elect Donald Trump, Lenderking expected that “both presidents will maintain interest in Yemen,” adding: “If we look at the previous Trump presidency, Yemen was among his priorities.”

He continued, saying: "The Houthis are strengthening their relationship with Iran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and there are Iranians in Sanaa helping them target ships, and this is unacceptable." He continued, saying that Trump "will focus on the security of the Red Sea and will not accept attacks on American ships and international trade."

Source: Al Jazeera