US Envoy's 'Worst Fear': Yemen Involvement in Israel-Gaza Conflict

Emma Rigby
Oct 25, 2023
US Envoy's 'Worst Fear': Yemen Involvement in Israel-Gaza Conflict

The US Special Envoy to Yemen voiced his concerns on Tuesday, emphasizing the potential threat the Gaza crisis poses to peace progress between the Houthis and the Yemeni government. He expressed his utmost apprehension about Yemen becoming embroiled in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Speaking at the US Institute of Peace during a discussion on the FSO Safer situation, Tim Lenderking brought attention to the Houthi rebels' recent actions, launching drones and missiles towards Israel, which he described as regrettable.


"My worst fear, of course, is that Yemen gets drawn into another war, and [Yemen's] ongoing conflict is far from resolved," he lamented.


A US warship in the Red Sea intercepted the drones and missiles, believed to have been launched by the Iran-backed group towards Israeli targets. This escalation raised concerns about the conflict extending beyond the borders of Israel and Gaza, as the Israeli military geared up for a possible ground invasion of the enclave.


Recent events saw Hamas militants causing casualties in Israel, with the Israeli military responding with significant Palestinian casualties in its counteroffensive in Gaza.


Amid this ongoing conflict, the Biden administration continued its financial support for Israel, while Mr. Lenderking stressed the loss of life and civilian casualties on both sides were inexcusable.


In the months leading up to the recent escalation between Hamas and Israel, there had been some optimism regarding the prospects for peace in Yemen. A UN-brokered ceasefire in April 2022 had led to a reduction in hostilities, which had persisted even after the ceasefire officially lapsed in October the previous year.


Notably, Saudi Arabia hosted Houthi representatives for talks, marking the first official visit by a Houthi delegation to the kingdom since 2014.


Despite the escalating tensions in the region, Mr. Lenderking retained hope for the Yemen peace process and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to it. He stressed the need to sustain diplomacy in Yemen, noting that there might be a chance for an end to the conflict.


"We have a considerable amount of work ahead, but we are determined to ensure that the peace efforts continue," he concluded.

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