US blames Houthis for failed Yemen peace efforts

The US envoy to Yemen has blamed the Houthi militia for failed efforts to bring peace to the country.

Tim Lenderking made the comments during a meeting on Thursday with Yemen’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak in Saudi Arabia, Saba news agency reported.

Lenderking is holding talks in the Kingdom as part of a US push to bring a nationwide cease-fire.

But the Biden administration appears increasingly frustrated by the Iran-backed Houthis and their refusal to engage with peace efforts.

During his meeting with Bin Mubarak, Lenderking repeated Washington’s position that there is no military solution to the Yemen conflict.

He strongly condemned the continued Houthi attacks on civilians and said an immediate and comprehensive cease-fire was a basic necessity to alleviate human suffering.

He said the US continued to support the legitimate government and the unity, stability and security of Yemen.

Bin Mubarak said: “The Houthi militia’s refusal to agree a comprehensive cease-fire, reopen Sanaa airport, and guarantee the supply of oil derivatives revenues to pay employees’ salaries proves the false pretexts these militias claim and confirms their bargaining on the humanitarian side, in order to continue implementing Iran’s subversive agenda.”

He said the militia’s targeting of civilians and populated areas in Marib with ballistic missiles has not stopped, but rather increased in severity, which exacerbates the seriousness of the humanitarian situation, increases the number of civilian casualties and undermines international efforts to establish peace.”