UNITED NATIONS: The United States has accused Russia of negotiating weapon transfers with Yemen’s Houthis whose attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea are holding hostage a vital commercial waterway.
Speaking to AFP on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said Russia was “cutting its own deals” with the Houthis to allow Moscow ships to sail through the Red Sea unharmed.
“We have confirmation that the Russians and the Houthis are in dialogue about ways to cooperate,” Lenderking stated, noting that this includes possible weapon transfers.
While he did not confirm that weapons were currently being transferred, he emphasized the seriousness of the situation, warning that such developments could escalate the conflict and derail ongoing peace efforts. “The notion that the Russians would provide the Houthis with lethal weapons is deeply alarming to the countries of the region,” he added.
The Houthis have intensified their military operations since November, launching drones and missiles at vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They claim their attacks are aimed at ships linked to Israel, the US, and Britain in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israeli bombardments in Gaza.
The US and Britain have conducted strikes against Houthi targets within Yemen since January, but these efforts have not significantly reduced the rebels’ maritime aggressions, which threaten to disrupt one of the world’s most vital trade routes.
Lenderking said that there have been numerous diplomatic discussions at the UN, including meetings involving US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Lenderking stated that a collective effort is underway to find “the right set of pressures and inducements” to persuade the Houthis to cease their Red Sea attacks.
