Yemen, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has voiced serious concerns regarding the recent surge in attacks by Houthi fighters. He described these developments as “extremely alarming,” warning that they pose a significant risk of escalating the ongoing conflict.
In a statement released on the social media platform X on Monday, Grundberg highlighted the troubling reports of civilian casualties, displacement of families, and damage to civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that a resurgence of widespread fighting could have dire consequences for the civilian population and complicate the already challenging path to a political resolution.
Grundberg urged all parties involved to halt all forms of fighting and violence, exercise maximum restraint, and utilize existing channels for dialogue, including the UN Military Coordination Committee. He also committed to maintaining direct contact with all sides to manage the current tensions and create space for negotiations. Additionally, he called on regional and international stakeholders to leverage their influence to help de-escalate the situation.
His remarks come at a time when clashes between Houthi fighters and government forces are intensifying across various regions of Yemen. On Monday, government troops launched a significant military operation in northern Al-Jawf province. Meanwhile, Houthi fighters are attempting to cut off vital roads connecting the government-controlled Red Sea port city of Mocha in western Taiz province.
An anonymous official reported that with support from armored vehicles, government forces are advancing towards the Houthi-controlled Al-Labanat military base east of Al-Hazm, the capital of Al-Jawf province. As fighting continues, government forces are encircling this strategic location.
Prior to the ground offensive, multiple airstrikes targeted the military base over the last 48 hours, destroying the Houthi command and control center and weapon stockpiles, thereby weakening their defensive capabilities. The operation aims to pressure Houthi fighters to withdraw some of their forces from the southwestern province of Taiz and the neighboring Red Sea coast province of Hodeidah, where fierce battles have raged for the past four days, resulting in at least 117 fighters from both sides being killed.
Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since late 2014 when Houthi fighters seized control of the capital, Sana’a, and large parts of northern Yemen. This prompted a military intervention led by a Saudi Arabia-backed coalition in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Leave a Comment