As airstrikes continue in Yemen, UN envoy holds talks in Oman

Aden (Yemen): Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, has met with senior Omani officials, Houthi leaders, and members of the diplomatic community in Muscat, the capital of Oman, to discuss the changing circumstances in Yemen,  said a statement from the envoy's office,

The United Nations' repeated demands for the immediate and unconditional release of arrested UN personnel, NGO employees, civil society activists, and diplomatic staff currently held by the Houthis were a major point of discussion, according to the Xinhua news agency.

"For far too long, families and colleagues have suffered, and communities have been left without the people who served them," Grundberg said. He added that these arrests "severely hinder international efforts to support the Yemeni people and undermine progress toward peace."

Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Houthis, who are a part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and the US, have launched numerous drones and missiles at Israel in what they claim is an act of solidarity with the Palestinians. In retaliation and allegedly to offer cover for Israel,  the US deployments in the region have hit back with airstrikes at targets in Yemeni territory dominated by the Houthis.

The US-led bombing campaign to secure the vital trade lanes has been triggered by their targeting of ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that they claim have connections to Israel.

Grundberg's office said he "met today in Muscat with senior Omani officials, members of Ansar Allah (Houthi) leadership, and representatives of the diplomatic community" in a statement that was posted on X. It stated about the discussions, "centered on the necessity to stabilize the situation in Yemen to allow all Yemenis to live in dignity and prosperity and to address the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders, including the region and the international community."

In the meantime, US aircraft continued their military assault that began in mid-March by launching fresh airstrikes on Thursday that targeted several northern provinces controlled by the Houthis. According to Washington, these assaults, which are conducted nearly every day on Houthi-controlled cities including Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Sadaa, are part of an effort to limit the Houthi's military capabilities and discourage its attacks on international shipping.

The Houthis have intensified their strikes against Israeli and US aircraft ships in the Red Sea in retaliation for the US military campaign. International efforts to establish long-term peace in Yemen, which has been experiencing a lengthy civil conflict since 2014, are made more difficult by the persistent tensions.

These attacks, carried out almost daily on Houthi-controlled cities including Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Sadaa, are part of what Washington describes as efforts to curtail Houthi military capabilities and deter its attacks on international navigation.

In response to the US military campaign, the Houthis have escalated their attacks against Israel and US aircraft carriers operating in the Red Sea.

The ongoing tensions continue to complicate international efforts to achieve lasting stability in Yemen, which has suffered from protracted civil war since 2014.

(Inputs from IANS)