Hodeidah Battle’s Regional Extension: A New Complication to Peace in Yemen?
After over a month of ruinous fighting for Yemen’s vital Hodeidah seaport, neither the Emirati-Saudi coalition leading the offensive, nor the Houthis resisting their advances have made any substantial progress in taking control of the city. Facing diplomatic, strategic, and humanitarian obstacles, the UAE and KSA have faltered in convincing their Yemeni allies to contribute to a comprehensive military campaign to push the Houthis out of the city. Regardless, the UAE and Saudi backed forces have pushed forward, claiming quick victories in the early days of the push, most notably by declaring control over the city’s airport. However, proclamations of such victories are ambiguous as the Houthis have refuted the claims by posting videos displaying their troops stationed at strategic points throughout the city.[1]
Given the delicacy of the war, recently appointed UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has conducted an array of shuttle diplomacy around the Gulf and beyond. Most recently, Griffiths traveled to Washington DC to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, hoping to alleviate the deteriorating conditions and renew peace talks.[2] Griffiths’ initiatives have focused on engaging all actors in the Yemeni conflict and prioritizing the mitigation of deteriorating humanitarian conditions. Although failing to avert the Hodeidah operation, he succeeded in mediating constructive talks between some factions leading to the halt of the UAE’s offensive on July 1, 2018–[3] a necessary step if conversations regarding a ceasefire are ever going to resume. Following negotiations, Griffiths, in a UN Security Council briefing on July 5th, emphasized the Yemeni parties’ desire for peace, commending the Houthi leader, Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, for his participation in the “fruitful discussion.”[4]
Griffiths has since continued to engage in negotiations with Yemeni parties, including a recent meeting in which he offered a peace proposal to President Hadi. Although the details of the proposal are still unclear, some reports suggest it signaled the Houthi’s willingness to accept UN administration of Hodeidah’s seaport, albeit with the caveat that the Houthis could participate cooperatively in the task.[5] Reluctant to accept this proposal, Hadi, backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has since formed a committee headed by his prime minister, Bin Daghr, to study this and other peace proposals.[6] In accordance with this stance, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashemi recently stated that although they too seek a UN-accredited resolution they also are demanding a “complete unconditional withdrawal for the Houthis from the Hodeidah port and city”[7]–a concession with which the Houthis are unlikely to comply.
In assessing the prospect for peace in Yemen, one must consider the recent chain of Houthi-claimed attacks on high-profile coalition targets including a Saudi Aramco refinery in Riyadh,[8] an Abu Dhabi Airport,[9] and an Aramco crude oil carrier in the Red Sea–the latter being the only attack confirmed by the Saudi government. Fearing increasing Houthi aggression, the Saudis subsequently announced an immediate suspension of oil shipments through the Red Sea,[10] a decision which the Houthis responded to by asserting their continued capability to target maritime infrastructure of other countries associated with the UAE-KSA coalition.[11] As the suspension of Red Sea shipments suggests, the Saudis and Emiratis may lose some negotiating leverage over any potential peace resolution as they reassess the Houthis increasing capabilities and the consequences associated with the Hodeidah offensive.
The continuation of fighting in Yemen has been matched by Griffiths’ equally forceful persistence in fostering negotiations. Still, it seems there will be no pending fix for the greater Yemeni crisis that is agreeable to all sides of the conflict. Although each party has staunch demands, it is expected that Griffiths’ efforts may succeed in bringing the Yemeni parties to the negotiating table in the coming weeks to find a makeshift solution, but only as it pertains to the Hodeidah issue. In the meantime, even if the Hodeidah issue can be negotiated and resolved, prospects for peace in the overall Yemen situation remain far from reach.
Gulf International Forum
References:
[1]“Al-Masirah inside Hodeidah International Airport 03-07-2018,” Al-Masirah TV Twitter Account, July 3, 2018 https://twitter.com/almasirah/status/1014234913292341251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1014234913292341251&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.almashhad-alyemeni.com%2F115232
[2] Moaz Al-Amari, “Griffiths in Washington to Promote Yemeni Settlement Plan,” Asharq Al-Awsat, July 20, 2018 https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1337746/griffiths-washington-promote-yemeni-settlement-plan
[3] “UAE says pauses Hodeidah offensive for UN Yemen peace efforts,” Times of Oman, July 1, 2018 https://timesofoman.com/article/137317
[4] “Yemen parties underscore ‘strong desire’ for peace, UN Envoy report,” UN News, July 5, 2018 https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/07/1013962
[5] “Houthis reject Griffiths’ proposal on Hodeidah seaport,” Oroba News, July 8, 2018 https://orobanews.com/2018/07/08/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B6%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%BA%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AB-%D8%A8%D8%B4%D8%A3%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%86/
[6] “After meeting with Griffith.. Hadi forms a committee chaired by Ben Daghr to study any proposals made by the UN envoy,” Medan el-Akhbar, July 10, 2018 https://www.medanelakhbar.com/varieties/1334490/After-meeting-with-Griffith-Hadi-forms-a-committee-chaired-by-Ben-Daghr-to-study-any-proposals-made-by-the-UN-envoy
[7] Joyce Karam, “UAE’s Reem Al Hashimy: Solution in Hodeidah could lead to final settlement in Yemen,” The National, July 18, 2018 https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/uae-s-reem-al-hashimy-solution-in-hodeidah-could-lead-to-final-settlement-in-yemen-1.751793
[8] “Yemen’s Houthis say they attacked Aramco refinery in Riyadh with drone,” Reuters, July 18, 2018 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-aramco/yemens-houthis-say-they-attacked-aramco-refinery-in-riyadh-with-drone-idUSKBN1K8262
[9] “UAE says Abu Dhabi airport operating normally, denies Houthi attack claim,” Reuters, July 26, 2018 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-emirates-denial/uae-says-abu-dhabi-airport-operating-normally-denies-houthi-attack-claim-idUSKBN1KG2E7
[10] David Sheppard, Ahmed Al Omran and Anjili Raval, “Saudi suspend Red Sea Oil shipments after tanker attacks,” The Financial Times, July 25, 2018 https://www.ft.com/content/f0858962-9005-11e8-b639-7680cedcc421
[11] “Houthis threaten to target ports of other countries participating in the Arab coalition,” Yemen Now, July 26, 2018 http://yemen-now.com/news3048608.html
