The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said on Wednesday that the ongoing military escalation in the Red Sea is slowing down the pace of peace efforts in the country.

This came during a briefing presented by Grundberg to the Security Council, and Grundberg added that “the escalation of regional tensions related to the war in Gaza.

In particular, the military escalation in the Red Sea leads to a slowdown in the pace of peace efforts in Yemen.

He called for “reducing the regional escalation, refraining the Yemeni parties from public incitement, and focusing the concerned parties (the countries sponsoring the peace efforts) on protecting the progress that has been achieved until an agreement is reached.”

Grundberg addressed the members of the Security Council: “Everyone in this council has influence. You have a collective responsibility to protect the (UN) mediation path and ensure that the Yemenis have a real opportunity for peace.”

Grundberg’s briefing comes that the United States and Britain carried out a total of 8 raids on Wednesday in Hodeidah Governorate, which is under the control of the Houthis.

For more than a year, Yemen has witnessed a lull in a war that began about 9 years ago between pro-government forces supported by an Arab military coalition.

It is led by neighboring Saudi Arabia and the Houthi forces, who are supported by Iran and have controlled governorates and cities, including Sanaa, since September 2014.

In “solidarity with Gaza,” which is facing a devastating Israeli war with American support, the Houthis targeted, with missiles and drones, Israeli cargo ships or those linked to them in the Red Sea.

Confirming their intention to continue their operations until the end of the war on the Gaza Strip.

 With the intervention of Washington and London and the tensions taking a noticeable escalation trend last January, Al-Houthi announced that it now considered all American and British ships among its military targets.

Since the beginning of 2024, the Washington-led coalition has launched raids that it says target “Houthi sites” in various regions of Yemen.

This was in response to its attacks in the Red Sea, which was met with a response from the group from time to time.

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European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that the EU mission’s planned mission to the Red Sea was “purely defensive.”

It aims to protect commercial ships from attacks by the Yemeni “Houthi” group.

This came during Borrell’s speech at the Third Ministerial Forum of the European Union and the Indo-Pacific Region, which began in the morning in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

“Disrupting freedom of navigation has consequences that go beyond economic losses,” Borrell said. “It is not just a matter of (spending) a few days or a few extra dollars, it is a matter of peace and stability.”

During the past months, the Houthis carried out attacks against commercial ships passing through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

International shipping companies were forced to reroute their flights via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa instead of the Red Sea, which increased shipping costs and the prices of goods.

Borrell added: “For this reason, we are actively working with our international partners to restore maritime security in the Red Sea.

We are progressing in work on a new naval operation that we have called ASPIDES, which is an ancient name from the Greek language and means shield.”

He pointed out that the mission of the European operation differs from the US-led “Prosperity Sentinel” operation, which includes attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Borrell said that the goal of the European operation “is not to launch any attack, but only defense,” adding that the mission “will deploy at sea and will not carry out any operation on land.”

On January 31, Borrell announced a naval mission called “Aspides” to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks, which will officially launch by February 19.

At an intermittent pace since January 12, a US-led coalition has been launching raids that it says target “Houthi sites” in various regions of Yemen.

This was in response to its attacks in the Red Sea, which was met with a response from the group from time to time.

And “in solidarity with the Gaza Strip,” which has been subjected to a devastating Israeli war with American support since October 7, 2023.

The Houthis target, with missiles and drones, cargo ships in the Red Sea that are owned or operated by Israeli companies or that transport goods to and from Israel.

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Head of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, Rashad Al-Alimi, on Sunday praised Turkey’s supportive stances for his country and its contributions to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people.

This came during Al-Alimi’s reception in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, of the Turkish ambassador to Yemen, Mustafa Polat, to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries, according to the official Yemeni News Agency.

Al-Alimi praised “Turkish positions in support of legitimacy in Yemen and efforts to end the coup and restore state institutions.”

He expressed his appreciation for “Turkish interventions in order to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.”

For his part, the Turkish ambassador reviewed “the current and future areas of support, especially in the sectors of education, works, capacity-building, and necessary humanitarian aid for the Yemeni people,” according to the official agency.

For more than 7 years, Yemen has been witnessing a continuous war between forces loyal to the legitimate government backed by an Arab military coalition led by the Saudi neighbor and the Iran-backed Houthis, who have controlled governorates, including the capital, Sanaa, since September 2014.

Until the end of 2021, the war killed 377,000 people and cost Yemen’s economy $126 billion in losses, according to the United Nations, and most of the country’s population of about 30 million people became dependent on aid in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

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The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) has distributed aid to more than 2.7 million Yemenis since 2018.

The authority stated in a statement on Saturday that it has distributed aid to 2,763,416 people in Yemen since 2018.

It added that it distributed aid to 161,185 Yemenis in 2022 only.

It noted that it carries out aid activities in various fields such as health, shelter, food, water, hygiene and education.

It indicated that it is currently continuing the construction work of a school consisting of 22 classrooms in Yemen.

She added that her teams are also renovating the private talent school and building health centers such as clinics.

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday condemned the attack on a residential neighborhood that left children injured on Saturday evening in the city of Taiz, southwest of Yemen.

This came in a statement by the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Farhan Haq.

Guterres said: “I condemn the attack that targeted the residential neighborhood of Zaid Al-Mashki in Taiz, injuring 11 boys and girls, most of them under the age of ten.”

He added, “Reports indicated that a number of these children are in critical condition, and one boy has died of his injuries.”

Guterres stressed that “the warring parties have obligations under international law to protect civilians. The killing and wounding of children is particularly reprehensible.”

He expressed “particular concern that this attack is one of the attacks that took place elsewhere in Yemen during the armistice.”

A statement from the Taiz police on Saturday said that “11 children were injured on Saturday evening in a brutal barbaric bombardment launched by the Houthi group.

And a number of mortar shells on the densely populated Zaid Al-Mushki neighborhood in the center of the city of Taiz, southwest of Yemen.

The statement described the incident as “a horrific and heinous crime, committed in clear violation of the armistice and a clear defiance of all local and international treaties and covenants.”

In early June, the Yemeni government and the Houthi group agreed to extend a humanitarian truce in the country for a period of two months.

After the expiration of a similar previous truce that began on April 2, last.

For more than 7 years, Yemen has been witnessing a continuous war between forces loyal to the legitimate government, backed by an Arab military alliance.

As well as the Iranian-backed Houthis, who have controlled several governorates, including Sanaa, since September 2014.

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The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, announced Thursday that he is conducting intensive contacts with the parties to the conflict in order to extend and expand the truce.

The UN envoy said in a statement that he had intensified his contacts with the parties “in support of the implementation of all provisions of the armistice and to explore opportunities to expand its scope and extend its term beyond August 2nd.”

He added that “the extension and expansion of the armistice will increase the benefits for the Yemeni people, and provide a platform for building more confidence between the parties.

And the start of serious discussions about economic priorities such as revenues and salaries, and security priorities, including the ceasefire.

“The ultimate goal is to move towards a comprehensive political settlement that ends the conflict,” Grundberg noted.

He continued: “Thanks to the continued commitment of the parties, the truce has largely held for nearly 4 months, which represents one of the longest periods of relative calm after more than 7 years of continuous conflict, during which the total number of civilian casualties decreased compared to their numbers before the truce.”

He explained that “during the armistice, 20 round-trip flights have been operated so far between Sanaa and Amman, and one round-trip between Sanaa and Cairo, all of which carried more than 8,000 passengers.”

And he added: “Between April 2 and July 21, 2022, 26 fuel ships entered the port of Hodeidah (west), carrying 720,270 tons of fuel derivatives, while more fuel ships are under procedures.”

The UN envoy considered that “the armistice brought about a major transformation for Yemen, and made a tangible difference in people’s lives.”

He pointed out that “the Yemeni people and the international community want and look forward to fully implementing, renewing and strengthening the truce.”

He expressed his hope that the parties would participate constructively in his efforts and realize the gains that can be achieved for the Yemeni people from extending and expanding the truce.

He concluded, “We must take advantage of this occasion and not waste the opportunity.”

And in early June, the Yemeni government and the Houthi group agreed to extend a humanitarian truce in the country for a period of two months, after the expiration of a previous similar truce that began on April 2.

Among the most prominent provisions of the truce currently in force are a ceasefire, the opening of the port of Hodeidah, the resumption of commercial flights through Sanaa airport, and the opening of roads in the city of Taiz, which has been besieged by the Houthis since 2015.

For more than 7 years, Yemen has been witnessing a continuous war between forces loyal to the legitimate government, backed by an Arab military coalition led by the Saudi neighbor, and the Iranian-backed Houthis, who have controlled several governorates, including Sanaa, since September 2014.

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The American newspaper, Politico, talked about the expected results of President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East and the agreements that might be signed during the visit between July 13-16.

The newspaper said in a lengthy report that Biden ignored the Middle East for the past 18 months.

Unlike his predecessor, Donald Trump, who enjoyed rapprochement with Israel and Saudi Arabia for domestic political purposes and to promote confrontation with Iran.

Over the past few months, she added, “the situation has changed slightly and inaccurately.”

Biden and his team concluded that they must intensify Washington’s presence in the Middle East so that China and Russia do not fill the void left by the United States.

The newspaper pointed out that the presence of the United States in the region would help “isolate Tehran, and consolidate the ceasefire in Yemen.

Accelerating modernity in Saudi society, and obtaining better relations between officials in Jerusalem and Riyadh,” as she put it.

The newspaper described the United States’ need for Saudi Arabia as “disturbing”, especially in the matter of maintaining oil supplies after the dwindling of Russian oil quantities following Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine.

She said the Middle East that Biden is visiting this week “is not the Middle East he wanted,” adding that the visit was “full of opportunity but also a minefield for the president.”

The newspaper quoted statements by a senior US official, who asked not to be named, in which he said that “it is better for us to be present, even if it is painful.”

The official explained that this is the price that Biden must pay, as the visit will demonstrate Washington’s commitment to normalizing Israeli relations with Arab countries.

And “ending the stalemate” of relations with Saudi Arabia, stressing that both are required to confront Iran in a “more effective” manner.

Despite the few “tangible achievements” expected from the visit, John Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, sees the visit as “an attempt to expand, not deepen” relations.

The newspaper mentioned some of the expected results of the visit, including the announcement of $100 million in support for Palestinian hospitals.

And the possibility of concluding an agreement with Saudi Arabia that would allow Israeli airlines to fly over its airspace.

The newspaper also expected that discussions would take place during the visit on the establishment of an “integrated air defense” system in the Middle East.

It includes Israel and neighboring countries that enables it to work in “unison” to thwart Iranian missiles.

Commenting on this point, a senior Israeli official told the (unnamed) newspaper: “Whether you want to use the word alliance or not is your business, but this is the idea.”

The newspaper said that the “most notable” development in the visit is Biden’s presence in Israel and Saudi Arabia.

He wants to show the world that all the attention given to Ukraine “will not distract his administration from securing regional interests with its allies and partners.”

The newspaper stressed that “continued engagement, not indifference,” would help calm the volatile region.

US officials believe that the improvement in relations after Biden’s visit will make it more difficult for Russia and China to gain a foothold in the region, according to the newspaper.

The newspaper pointed out that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Middle East official in the National Security Council Brett McGurk lobbied to convince Biden that the visit was “essential.”

She confirmed that the president “has agreed to conduct the visit knowing full well that he has many losses and few short-term gains.”

The US President is scheduled to arrive this evening, on a visit to the Middle East from July 13-16.

It starts with Israel and then the West Bank before taking off directly from Tel Aviv to Saudi Arabia.

The US President will also attend in the Saudi city of Jeddah, on the last day of his visit, a summit that includes the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in addition to Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.

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On Sunday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his appreciation for Iran’s efforts to extend the armistice in Yemen, and stressed the importance of returning to the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the West through diplomacy.

This came in a statement by the spokesman for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, regarding the call of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian with Guterres on Saturday.

The statement stated that “the Secretary-General of the United Nations received a phone call, Saturday, from Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.”

He added: “The Secretary-General expressed his satisfaction with the extension of the armistice in Yemen, and his appreciation for the Iranian efforts in this regard.”

The statement continued: “The Secretary-General reiterated his position that diplomacy must prevail in order to return to the full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the nuclear agreement).”

Diplomats from Iran, the United States and 5 other countries have been negotiating for months in the Austrian capital Vienna on a deal to restore restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear programs.

In return for lifting the economic sanctions re-imposed by former US President Donald Trump after Washington withdrew from the agreement in May 2018.

On the Yemeni issue, the parties to the conflict agreed earlier this month to extend a humanitarian truce in Yemen for another two months, after the end of a similar precedent that began on April 2.

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US President Joe Biden announced Saturday that he has not yet decided on a visit to Saudi Arabia, saying that if he goes there it will be to participate in meetings that go beyond energy issues.

Biden told reporters today at the conclusion of his trip to California that he had not yet decided on visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to what was reported by the American “Bloomberg” agency.

He added that any trip to Saudi Arabia would be for a “larger meeting” on regional security.

According to the agency, “Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia will reflect a shift in his diplomatic priorities.

and efforts to mend relations with a country he once vowed to make a pariah for its alleged human rights abuses.

She said the Russian invasion of Ukraine and rising inflation represented by record US gasoline prices are pressing President Biden to change course and boost energy supplies.

International human rights organizations criticize Saudi Arabia in the human rights file, while Riyadh refuses to prejudice the independence of its judiciary.

Emphasizing its adherence to the application of the law and support for human rights, considering this to be mere “lies”.

In recent months, the Biden administration has strengthened its cooperation with Riyadh on a range of issues.

Especially in pursuit of an end to the 8-year-old Saudi-led war in neighboring Yemen.

A few days ago, the American newspaper “New York Times” revealed that Biden decided to travel to Saudi Arabia, the largest exporter of crude oil in the world, this June.

To rebuild relations with the kingdom at a time when it seeks to reduce gas prices at home and isolate Russia abroad.

The announcement came at a time when US strategic interests in oil and security have prompted a rethink of the “hardline” stance.

Which Biden pledged to take towards Saudi Arabia during his election campaign.

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The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 11 irregular migrants who were forced by the Greek forces to return to the Turkish territorial waters in the Aegean Sea off the coast of the western state of Izmir.

On Thursday, it was reported that the teams rescued 11 migrants off the coast of the Qara Adda area in the Shamma district, forcing them to return to Turkish waters by Greek forces.

After they were rescued, the migrants with nationalities of Afghanistan, Yemen and Eritrea were transferred to the gendarmerie command in the state.

On the other hand, the competent medical authorities cast the left hand of Yemeni immigrant Aisha Ahmed with plaster after it was found that it was broken.

The immigrant Ahmed said that they were attacked with batons by the Greek forces who pushed them into Turkish waters.

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