The conflict in Yemen is entering a critical stage as the UN-backed peace talks fail to reach a solution. The Houthis have, yet again, rejected negotiations with the Yemeni government, blaming the United States and Saudi Arabia for their own failure to take the peace process forward and put the benefit of the Yemeni people before anything else.
Meanwhile Yemenis, with the help of the Arab coalition, have managed to break through the Houthi siege on the city of Taez and deliver food supplies to the people after the Saudi-led coalition airdropped arms and ammunition to resistance forces in Taez on Wednesday. The pro-government fighters managed to capture 13 hilltops from Houthi rebels in the same day.
These are two important steps towards liberating the key province of Taez from the control of the Houthis, who have been aggressively targeting hospitals and other community centres and killing many innocent civilians. The UN World Food Programme appealed for safe access to Taez on Friday to “prevent a humanitarian tragedy as supplies dwindle, threatening the lives of thousands – including women, children and the elderly”.
Such aggressive actions by the Houthis show that the militants, along with rebel units still supporting the previous president Ali Abdullah Saleh, have started to realise that they are losing ground in Yemen. The Arab coalition is moving north, seeking to limit their pernicious influence on the country and prevent the Iran-backed militia offering Tehran a foothold in the country.
All indications point to the fact that the Arab coalition is now more determined than ever to complete the mission and help Yemen regain its stability after years of conflict. Indeed, Adel Al Jubeir, Saudi’s foreign minister, has said the battle is reaching its “final phase”. Liberating Taez is key to reach the ultimate goal, which is to free the capital Sanaa and restore legitimacy in Yemen.
The UAE’s stance is clear in this regard: the country will do everything it takes to take Yemen to safe shores and help it build a civil state with a strong institutions and a strong rule of law for the benefit of every segment in society. For this mission, our country has lost some of its faithful sons, who sacrificed their lives to defend their homeland. And make no mistake, this is also a fight for the safety of this country, because the security of the UAE depends on the political, economic and social security of Yemen.
