US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, has issued a warning, urging Washington not to let the Gaza conflict spiral out of control while still focusing on peace efforts in Yemen.
Mr. Lenderking said to The National on Tuesday, “We’ve made tremendous progress on the peace process and these peace efforts should not be squandered.”
His remarks followed claims made on Monday by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen that they had launched drones at Israel in their second offensive.
According to the organization on X, militants “launched a batch of drones during the past hours at various sensitive targets of the Israeli enemy in the occupied territories,” halting activities at “targeted bases and airports” for a number of hours in the process. The Israeli government did not immediately respond.
“Securing, extending and building on the UN-led truce in Yemen, which is having tangible impact on millions of Yemenis and provides the best opportunity for peace that Yemen’s had since war began,” according to a senior US source who spoke with The National, is still the major goal of Washington’s Yemen mission.
The official stated, “The parties need to continue to choose peace and move towards the establishment of an inclusive, Yemeni-Yemeni peace process under UN auspices as well as a durable, nationwide ceasefire.”
