Negotiations held in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa between UN and Houthi
officials were “not productive,” and the second phase of the withdrawal of all combatants from Hodeidah looks to be indefinitely stalled, with the Houthis refusing to leave.
The Houthis had previously and willingly left some smaller ports in
Hodeidah Province, handing the facilities to the UN. The next step was
to leave the main aid port, however, and the Houthis are conditioning
that on them being allowed to maintain some management positions within
the seaport.
Negotiations were intended to get the Houthis out of Hodeidah Province,
but also the invading Saudi-led forces as well. This was intended to
open up aid routes from Hodeidah, as well as prevent Saudi forces from
destroying or shutting down the port, through which 70% of aid flows.
While Saudi-backed officials are using this to launch a new round of
condemnations of the Houthis, it’s not clear what the point of this
delay is, apart from continuing to drag on the dispute over the future
of the port, or try to get a few more concessions at the last second.
Meh. Saudis are probably prematurely invading during peace talks again like they usually do.