The UAE and Saudi Arabia deny involvement in potential U.S.-led talks for a land offensive against Houthis in Yemen. Reports suggest Yemeni factions are considering action amid ongoing U.S. airstrikes. The UAE previously participated in Yemen’s military efforts but ceased operations in 2019, leaving the Houthis largely in control.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have emphatically denied media reports suggesting their involvement in discussions with the United States regarding a ground offensive in Yemen aimed at combating the Houthi rebels. Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, characterized the claims as “wild, unsubstantiated stories”. A Saudi official further dismissed the information as false.
Recent reports indicated that Yemeni factions were considered planning a military offensive along the Red Sea coastline to leverage U.S. airstrikes on the Houthis. This development follows a U.S.-led aerial campaign initiated by President Donald Trump, designed to curtail Houthi attacks on crucial maritime routes in the Red Sea.
Since the resumption of U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis, numerous armed groups aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government have reportedly prepared to advance into the significant port city of Hodeidah. Analysts report that these attacks have led to casualties among Houthi leaders and have diminished the group’s military capabilities.
The UAE played a pivotal role in a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis since early 2015, catalyzed by the Houthis’ takeover of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The UAE concluded its military involvement in Yemen in 2019, and substantial hostilities in the civil war had ceased by 2022 under a truce, leaving the Houthis with control over much of western Yemen, which contains most of the population.
Notably, the Houthis initiated attacks on Red Sea shipping in November 2023, claiming the assaults were in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. This escalation highlights the ongoing complexities and geopolitical undercurrents in the region.
In summary, both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have officially refuted claims of their involvement in planning a ground offensive in Yemen against the Houthi rebels. This denial follows reports of Yemeni factions seeking collaboration with the U.S. alongside a backdrop of renewed airstrikes against the Houthis. The situation underscores both the regional tensions and the geopolitical stakes surrounding the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Original Source: www.thenationalnews.com
