The U.S. designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group puts "additional pressure" on the group that may discourage attacks on ships in the Red Sea, but ultimately a diplomatic solution will have to be found in Yemen, the U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen said on Wednesday.
U.S. special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, Reuters/Jehad Shelbak/File Photo
The U.S. designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group puts "additional pressure" on the group that may discourage attacks on ships in the Red Sea, but ultimately a diplomatic solution will have to be found in Yemen, the U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen said on Wednesday.
The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control Yemen's capital and most populous areas, have attacked international shipping in the Red Sea since November in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians, drawing U.S. and British retaliatory strikes since February.
Envoy Tim Lenderking said the purpose of the strikes was to destroy the Houthis' ability to attack ships.
The Houthi attacks are undermining progress in the peace process in the broader Yemeni conflict, Lenderking said after holding meetings in Saudi Arabia and Oman.
"We favour a diplomatic solution, we know that there is no military solution," he said.
Saudi Arabia mediating between the Houthis and the internationally recognised Yemeni government "gives us some hope that we can use this moment to get beyond current tensions", he added.
He said there has been a 15% reduction in ships being able to dock at Yemen's Hodeidah port, obstructing humanitarian aid.
Reporting by Yousef Saba
Two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to Asia reversed course in the Red Sea on Tuesday after threats from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, as a widening Middle East conflict disrupted shipping through two of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.
The level of "interaction" with Iran's Supreme Leader is increasing day by day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a video clip published on state media on Tuesday.
Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports and Customs said Tuesday that customs officers had thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 200 hand grenades hidden inside a vehicle attempting to cross the border toward Lebanon.
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