Diplomacy in Progress to Enable Houthis to Escalate Tensions – US Official, According to Reuters

By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON – Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to find a solution that would lead Yemen’s Houthis to de-escalate, according to the U.S. special envoy to Yemen. This comment, made by Special Envoy Tim Lenderking in a video released on Tuesday, refers to attempts to stop the group’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

Lenderking recorded his remarks for a think-tank conference last Friday before traveling to Oman for discussions related to the ongoing crisis, which has prompted retaliatory strikes from the U.S. and the U.K. against Houthi weapons positions.

Oman has been acting as a mediator with the Iran-aligned Houthis, who seized control of the capital Sanaa and other major areas during a civil war that has diminished, despite the lapse of a ceasefire agreement from 2022.

The Houthis claim their actions are in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Recently, the group’s leader threatened to escalate missile and drone attacks unless Israel ceases its activities against Hamas, the governing authority in the Gaza Strip.

Lenderking stated that diplomatic initiatives are underway to find a “climbdown” for the Houthis to improve the situation and reduce military tensions in the region. He mentioned discussions held in Oman last week involving British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the Norwegian deputy foreign minister, and the U.N. special envoy Hans Grundberg as part of these efforts.

He also accused Iran of supporting Houthi assaults with weaponry, intelligence, and direction on lucrative targets, a claim that Tehran denies.

According to Lenderking, the ongoing Houthi attacks increase the risk of renewed conflict in Yemen and pose threats to the delivery of food and medical supplies essential for both Yemen and Gaza.

These assaults have disrupted maritime trade in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, forcing vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, which in turn has driven up shipping costs and insurance rates.

Lenderking expressed hope for discussions aimed at preserving a roadmap to end the war in Yemen, an agenda previously negotiated between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which intervened in the conflict on behalf of Yemen’s internationally recognized government in 2015.

While he noted that the Houthis lack justification for linking their attacks to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Lenderking emphasized the importance of seeing significant de-escalation in Gaza.