Persian Gulf Arab Nations Support UN-Led Efforts For Yemen Ceasefire

Military policemen ride on the back of a patrol truck at the site of a funeral of Houthi fighters killed during fighting against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen December 6, 2021.
Military policemen ride on the back of a patrol truck at the site of a funeral of Houthi fighters killed during fighting against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen December 6, 2021.

Persian Gulf nations have shown support for the implementation of a ceasefire and active participation in a peace process in efforts led by the United Nations.

The commitments, conveyed by the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, represent the latest concerted effort to bring an end to the conflict now in its ninth year.

The conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government, has led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, either directly through warfare or indirectly due to severe factors such as food shortages, constituting one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

Yemen, the most impoverished nation on the Arabian Peninsula, has been entrenched in conflict since 2014, initiated by the capture of the capital, Sanaa, by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. In response, a Saudi-led military intervention unfolded in 2015, aiming to support Yemen's internationally-recognized government.

Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire in April 2022, which significantly reduced hostilities, the truce lapsed in October of the same year, though conflict activities have generally been subdued. Saudi Arabia welcomed the UN's announcement of a "roadmap to support the path of peace" on Monday, urging Yemen's conflicting parties to engage in dialogue for a comprehensive and lasting political resolution under the UN's guidance.

Oman, acting as a mediator in the conflict, also expressed support for the developments, conveying optimism for a prompt signing of the deal. The United Arab Emirates, a member of the Saudi-led coalition countering Houthi rebels, commended efforts to streamline the roadmap deal.

However, Yemen's Houthi rebels have risen once again in the wake of the war on Gaza, attacking vessels in the Red Sea in allegiance with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and recruiting thousands more fighters as the group vows to continue attacks on Israeli and US interests and other members of the more than 20-member coalition formed to protect the vital maritime shipping route.