UN envoy, Yemen's foreign minister discuss Red Sea tensions amid Houthi attacks

By Aziz al-Ahmadi

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg held talks on Wednesday with Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak to discuss current tensions in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships.

The talks, held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, took up the latest developments in Yemen and repercussions of the Red Sea tensions on the UN-led peace efforts in Yemen, the state-run news agency Saba reported.

During the meeting, bin Mubarak called on the international community to reconsider its interactions with the Houthi group, the agency said.

Yemen has fallen into violence since 2014 when Houthi rebels captured much of the country from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The Yemeni conflict, however, has seen a de-escalation more than a year ago.

Tensions have escalated in the Red Sea amid Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel.

The Houthis say their attacks aim to pressure Israel to halt its deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip, prompting the US and Britain to launch retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio