US envoy: Houthis obstruct peace efforts in Yemen, use Gaza war as pretext

US Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking said on Wednesday that what the Houthi group is doing in the Red Sea is obstructing peace efforts, accusing them of exploiting the Gaza war as a pretext to extend their power in the region.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Lenderking stressed that Washington does not want to postpone achieving peace in Yemen due to other regional events, denouncing the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and calling for them to be stopped quickly.

He drew attention to the ongoing efforts to rescue a Greek oil tanker that was attacked in the Red Sea, stressing the need to unload its cargo and for everyone to cooperate to prevent a maritime and environmental disaster.

Commenting on the Israeli bombing that targeted the port of Hodeidah in Yemen, the US envoy stressed that his country would not justify any attack from any party that harms civilians, noting that "an international coalition is directing strikes at the Houthis' military capabilities in response to attacks against ships."

He pointed out that this prevents Yemenis from achieving their daily needs and creates a further distance towards achieving a serious peace process, stressing the importance of moving from the truce in Yemen that began in April 2022 in order to launch a better future for the Yemeni people.

Regarding his visit to the United Kingdom, Lenderking said that he had the opportunity to consult with London on developing Yemen and helping it economically, and how to push towards a comprehensive peace there, but the Houthis stopped the roadmap to achieve this, accusing them of obstructing this effort.

He reiterated his country's and the international community's position on the necessity of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the return of the detained prisoners and the end of the ongoing conflict.

On August 21, the Houthis targeted the oil tanker Sunion off the coast of Hodeidah, causing a fire on board and the loss of engine power. The next day, a French frigate from the European Red Sea naval mission, Aspedes, evacuated the 25-member crew to Djibouti, and the Greek ship, carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, became a “navigational and environmental hazard.”

Days later, the Houthis released a video showing the oil tanker being rigged with explosives and detonated, causing several fires on board, before it was “allowed” to be towed. On September 3, Aspedas announced that “conditions are not favorable” for towing the burning tanker, warning of the possibility of an “unprecedented” environmental disaster in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies