US envoy travels to Yemen this week to promote peace
Without giving any dates or specific destinations, the US State Department announced that its envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, would travel to the Gulf region this week to promote peace. He will liaise with officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, as well as United Nations officials.
Mr. Lenderking “will emphasize the need to contain the Israel-Hamas conflict while maintaining the United States’ priority.” [c’est-à-dire] political dialogue [entre les Yéménites] to end the war and put Yemen on the path to peace and stability,” the State Department said in a statement. “The broader conflict in the Middle East does not serve the interests of the United States or those of our regional partners who support lasting peace in Yemen,” the statement continued.
Houthi rebels, who control most of Yemen and are backed by Iran, have attacked ships bound for Israel in retaliation for the Israeli army’s war against the Palestinian Hamas in Gaza since the Islamist movement’s deadly attack on October 7 Communication is established and rockets are fired.
The Houthis seized a merchant ship linked to an Israeli businessman on November 19. On Sunday, Washington reported that a US destroyer shot down three drones while providing aid to merchant ships attacked in the Red Sea from Yemen.
“The provocative and dangerous attacks” by the rebels “threaten nearly two years of progress toward ending the war in Yemen,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.