US special envoy urges de-escalation in talks with Yemeni officials

Tim Lenderking is on a regional tour amid push to tackle crisis

Tim Lenderking said US priorities include improving Yemen's economic and humanitarian situation.

The US special envoy for Yemen has met the Yemeni foreign minister and called for “urgent de-escalation” in that country.

Tim Lenderking told Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak in Riyadh that US priorities included taking the necessary steps to mitigate Yemen’s humanitarian and economic crises, which involved “improving aid access and addressing fuel shortages”.

During a visit to the UAE, Mr Lenderking also held an online meeting with Southern Transitional Council leader Aidrous Al Zubaidi, the US State Department said.

Mr Lenderking emphasised that it is important for Yemen’s various factions to work together to advance government efforts to strengthen the country’s economy, enhance stability and security, and ease the suffering of Yemenis.

The meetings are part of a wider regional tour by the special envoy “to reinvigorate peace efforts” in co-ordination with international partners and “press the parties to de-escalate militarily and seize the new year to participate fully in an inclusive UN-led peace process”.

Mr Lenderking met Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, where he “reaffirmed US condemnation of Houthi attack against the Emirates this week and Washington’s unwavering commitment to the security of the UAE and the protection of all civilians in the region”, said the US State Department.

Mr Lenderking also met representatives of the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Hans Grundberg, the special envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for Yemen.