The Yemeni government called Monday on the international community to press for peace by mounting pressure on the Houthi militias and the Iranian regime in order to reach a political settlement to put an end to the Yemeni people’s suffering.
The government also asked for intervention to prevent Tehran from continuing to smuggle weapons to the militias as part of its efforts to threaten regional and international stability.
On the ground, seven civilians were injured in the Marib province on Sunday after the Houthis fired a new ballistic missile into a neighborhood in the government-held city. This was the fifth missile fired into Marib in seven days.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak said: “The ongoing military escalation, in spite of the United Nations and international efforts to end the war and restore peace, reflects the militias’ refusal to reach a peaceful solution.”
During a meeting with China’s ambassador to Yemen, he underscored the importance of exerting maximum pressure on the Houthis to force them to stop their escalation and respond to peace calls.
He also met with Russian Ambassador Vladimir Dedoshkin on ongoing efforts to end the war and achieve peace based on UN and regional initiatives, slamming the Houthis for their insistence on continuing the aggression against the Yemeni people.
The ongoing offensive in Marib reflects the “hostile nature of the militias and commitment to Iran’s agenda to destabilize Yemen and the region,” he added.
Bin Mubarak also held talks with EU Ambassador Hans Grundberg, who reiterated the Union’s support for reaching peace in Yemen and restoring its unity, security and stability.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the arms shipment, seized on Saturday by the US Navy in the Arabian Sea, is new evidence of Iran’s ongoing smuggling of weapons to the Houthis.
He said it is clear that Tehran is using the militias to carry out is expansionist agenda and spread chaos and terrorism in the region and threaten global interests.
He called on the international community to take a clear stance against the continuous Iranian meddling in Yemen and its blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions.
On Saturday, the US said its navy foiled a smuggling of large shipment of different arms, including missiles, on a small ship of unidentified nationality in international waters off Yemen's southern coasts.
