© Provided by Washington Examiner Iran-backed Houthi militants have "prioritized" a major military offensive while ignoring a U.S. ceasefire proposal, even as President Biden pressures Saudi Arabia to curtail military operations in the civil war.
"Tragically, and somewhat confusingly for me, it appears that the Houthis are prioritizing a military campaign ... over suspending the war and moving relief to the Yemeni people," State Department special representative Tim Lenderking said Friday.
Lenderking, the U.S. point man for the crisis, painted a picture of a Houthi fighting force turning U.S. initiatives to its military advantage. Outrage over civilian casualties spurred Biden to withdraw support for Saudi attacks in neighboring Yemen, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken's reversal of the Trump administration's decision to brand the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization cleared a legal impediment to the flow of humanitarian aid.
STATE DEPARTMENT BLASTS IRAN AND HOUTHIS AS 'NOT COMMITTED TO PEACE' IN YEMEN
"The Houthis continue to impede that flow, including [by] diverting money from imports that was intended for civilian salaries, in direct violation of their commitments under a [United Nations] agreement," he told an Atlantic Council audience. "Unfortunately, we cannot ensure that food that passes through the port reaches those in need, as that area is under Houthi control."
In that context, Houthi militants forged ahead with an assault on Marib, the last major city in northern Yemen controlled by the embattled central government. "It's also an oil platform, so one can understand why the Houthis are going for it, but it's causing a huge humanitarian toll," Lenderking said.
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The envoy described such land grabs as "fruitless" but acknowledged that Houthi successes over the years have secured them "a role in Yemen" going forward. Saudi Arabia has grown willing to negotiate a peace over the last six months to a year, he said.
"I'm looking for the same response from the other side," he said. "I'm eager for it."
Tags: News, Foreign Policy, National Security, Yemen, Iran, Houthis, Saudi Arabia
Original Author: Joel Gehrke
Original Location: Iran-backed Houthis use Biden peace initiatives to boost war efforts