Okaz

Sadly, the UN came up with the proposal for new negotiations forcing a truce in Hodeida at a time the coalition forces almost liberated the city and its seaport.

THIS is not the first time that I write about the obvious complicity of the UN through its envoy to make the Yemen issue more complicated and prolong the crisis, which will be in favor of the Houthi militia, which had seized power in Sanaa with the logistic, strategic and military support of Iran.

This complicity is not an assumption anymore but a reality that is proven through the UN proposals with regard to the Yemen crisis and how to deal with it from the time of Jamal Bin Omar to that of Martin Griffiths.

Griffiths is now visiting Riyadh to seek the approval of the legitimate Yemeni government to a disastrous proposal for the Hodeida seaport. In fact, this is a proposal made by the Houthis who want to pass it under the umbrella of the UN to flip the balance of power in the battle for Hodeida, where the coalition forces have been gaining the upper hand.

Hodeida is a very important strategic point for the Houthis because its seaport is the main line of supply for them after the militia was surrounded from all sides, and its other sea and land accent points were blocked before them. That is why Hodeida is a very important negotiating card.

Sadly, the UN came up with the proposal for new negotiations forcing a truce in Hodeida at a time the coalition forces almost liberated the city and its seaport. But the Houthi militia did not honor the ceasefire conditions.

When the coalition forces reacted with military action against the Houthis for breaking the truce, the UN special envoy flew back to Yemen to save the militia with a proposal that was arranged with them and that would give the UN a joint supervisory role in Hodeida seaport. A joint role with whom?

Obviously, joint supervision with the Houthi militia, which is controlling the seaport. What about the city of Hodeida? Who is going to run it as it has been almost liberated? Of course, it will return to the Houthi militia, all thanks to the UN tactics.

This UN game is exposed and the legitimate government should refuse the proposal when Griffiths hold talks with them in Riyadh. Otherwise they will be partners in bringing the crisis back to square one because the proposal is meant to grant the Houthis their only supply line that backs their existence.

The only logical solution is to hand over the seaport to the legitimate government under the protection of the coalition forces and the UN can supervise this operation after kicking the Houthis out, if they were serious about saving Yemen. The legitimate Yemeni government should categorically reject the UN’s changing tactics in support of the Houthis.