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DUBAI (Reuters) – The Yemeni Houthi movement announced on Monday that it was putting an end to drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their Yemeni allies, in response to a demand. of the UN.
PHOTO FILE: A Houthi activist stands guard on the roof of a building overlooking his Houthi fellow citizens who demonstrate to denounce the rapid devaluation of the Yemeni rial in Sanaa, Yemen, on October 5, 2018. REUTERS / Khaled Abdullah / File Photo
International pressure on the Yemeni parties to the conflict to end the war that killed more than 10,000 people and pushed the country to the brink of starvation.
The Houthi group's movement came after the Saudi-led coalition ordered an end to its offensive against Hodeidah, the main port city of Yemen, which became the center of the war.
"After our contacts with the UN envoy and his request to stop the drone strikes … we announce our initiative … to stop the missile strikes and drones. on the countries of aggression, "Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, chairman of the Houthi Revolutionary Supreme Committee, said in a statement.
UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths is trying to save the peace talks after the failure of a series of talks in September when the Houthis did not show up. He hopes to hold talks before the end of the year in Sweden to agree on a peace framework for a transitional government.
The Yemeni parties have given "firm assurances" that they will pledge to participate in peace talks, Griffiths told the UN Security Council on Friday, and has pledged to escort the houthie delegation from Sanaa if needed.
The group aligned with Iran that fights against the Saudi-backed government for nearly four years has added that it is ready for a wider ceasefire if "the Saudi-led coalition wants to the peace".
"(The decision) was made to support the US envoy, to show good faith and support peace efforts," the statement said.
Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expressed support for US-led peace talks.
Houthis say missile attacks on Saudi Arabia are retaliation for airstrikes by western-backed coalition Yemen, which went to war in 2015 to try to re-establish President Abd-Rabbu's government Mansour Hadi, supported by Saudi Arabia.
The coalition has carried out thousands of airstrikes in the poor country that hit schools, markets and hospitals, killing hundreds – even though it says it does not target civilians.
Last July, the Houthis unilaterally halted attacks in the Red Sea to support peace efforts, after Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended oil exports via a strategic channel of the Red Sea following Attacks on tankers.
Major Western allies, including the United States, have urgently called for a ceasefire before the UK's efforts resume.
Western countries have provided weapons and intelligence to the Arab countries of the alliance, but have expressed growing reservations about the conflict since the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist based in the United States at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul at the beginning of the year. last month.
Additional report of Hesham Hajali in Cairo; Edited by Robin Pomeroy and Chris Reese
