The Biden administration’s State Department on Friday blamed Iran-aligned Houthis for the failure of a ceasefire to take hold in Yemen and accused them of failing to take additional meaningful steps to end the conflict, Reuters and other news agencies report.
“While there are numerous problematic actors inside of Yemen, the Houthis bear major responsibility for refusing to engage meaningfully on a ceasefire and to take steps to resolve a nearly seven-year conflict that has brought unimaginable suffering to the Yemeni people,” the State Department said.
The Biden administration has made ending the conflict in Yemen a priority, while also repeatedly emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself against external threats. Regional diplomatic veteran Timothy Lenderking was tapped by the Biden team to help revive stalled U.N. peace efforts.
According to Reuters, Lenderking returned on Thursday from a trip to Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, where he discussed the humanitarian and economic crisis in Yemen with government officials, Yemenis and international partners.
Last month, the Biden Administration announced new sanctions on two Houthi military officials, taking action over the Iran-aligned movement’s offensive to seize Yemen’s gas-rich Marib region and lack of real commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the end of the war there. Lenderking earlier on Thursday “urged the group battling a Saudi-led coalition for over six years to de-escalate and engage seriously with U.S. and U.N. efforts for a ceasefire needed to end the war, a top foreign policy priority for the Biden administration.”
Houthi aggression in Magrib continues despite last month’s warnings from the U.S. officials. “The Houthis continue a devastating offensive on Marib that is condemned by the international community and leaves the Houthis increasingly isolated,” the State Department said today.
On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday and emphasized that the U.S. was committed to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory and people, the Pentagon said in a statement. The two top defense leaders discussed “regional security, particularly efforts to end the war in Yemen,” according to the Pentagon.
