Interests at play as Yemeni crisis seeks solutions

Aya Ezz

The US has called on Iran to provide support to end the conflict in Yemen, one year into the truce that contributed significantly to reducing violence in the Arab country.

US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, indicated that if Iran wants to make a positive shift in the conflict, it must stop smuggling weapons to the Houthis, and comply with UN Security Council resolutions.

In a speech at the Middle East Institute in Washington, Lenderking expressed a desire to see Iran’s support for the political process in Yemen, which he hopes will be successful in ending the conflict, restoring legitimate governance, and stabilizing the country.

In the same context, the US expressed support to Yemen in addressing the threat of landmines. It demanded the Houthi militias to hand over maps of the landmines.

Mines planted by the Houthi militias in Yemen, especially in residential areas, are one of the most serious challenges facing civilians. They caused the death and injury of many people.

Cooperation

For his part, Yemeni political analyst, Rajeh Mahmud, said he cannot predict the extent of Iran’s cooperation in ending the conflict.

“This depends on many political and strategic factors and the interests of each party to the conflict,” Mahmud told The Reference.

It is important, he added, to note that this invitation comes within the framework of current international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen.

He added that this requires cooperation from all concerned parties, including Iran.

“Therefore, this invitation should be an opportunity to encourage dialogue and negotiation to find peaceful solutions to the conflict in Yemen,” Mahmud said.

He added that everything that is happening is a routine effort by countries to try to resolve the crisis, despite knowing that the Houthi group does not adhere to any international covenants and agreements.

Insufficient

Mahmud pointed out that despite current international efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, the results achieved so far are not enough to end the conflict definitively.

Among the results achieved from international efforts, he said, is a partial truce that was announced in 2018 under the mediation of the UN.

This truce, he added, resulted in a reduction in violence in some areas.

Mahmud noted that many prisoners have been released on both sides to the conflict.

“This is an important step in easing the conflict,” Mahmud said.

He explained that despite these positive results, there are many challenges that must be overcome to end the conflict once and for all, including the complexities of the political and security situation in Yemen and the interference of external parties in the conflict.