On Wednesday's PBS NewsHour, U.S. special envoy to Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, said stopping Houthi shipping attacks “cannot be done through military action alone.” “I think diplomatic activity will continue and very strong messaging and outreach to the Houthis will continue. What combination of pressure and incentives can get the international community back to a position where they can focus on peace efforts in Yemen? Let's see what happens.'' While helping them gain international legitimacy, he said, “we must move away from attacks on shipping, reverse the attacks, and return our focus to peace efforts in Yemen.'' did.
Nick Shiffrin, the NewsHour's foreign affairs and defense correspondent, said, “Over the last week…the United States and Britain have attacked Houthi drones, missiles, and air defense capabilities three times, the very things they have been using to attack ships.'' launched an airstrike.” Red Sea and Gulf. However, as I mentioned earlier, the Houthis have launched at least two attacks today alone, including on US ships. So what is the evidence that these attacks have degraded the Houthis' capabilities? ”
Mr. Lenderking replied: “The attacks launched by the United States and the United Kingdom in conjunction with other partners certainly achieved their goals. I think it is the hope of all of us that we do not end up in an endless conflict here. That was never the intention of the United States. The United States wants to attack these capabilities that lead to attacks on international shipping. And we have so far been very lax about keeping within very clearly defined parameters. I think we have worked with discipline.”
Shiffrin continued: “But where will this end? How many airstrikes do you think it will take for it to degrade? [the] Is it so bad that the Houthis cannot continue to do what they have been doing with commercial shipping? ”
“This is not an isolated military action,” Lenderking said. “I think the diplomatic work will continue and there will continue to be very strong messaging and outreach against the Houthis. What combination of pressures and incentives will force the international community to move forward in Yemen?” “We'll see how we can get back to the ability to focus on peace efforts and move away from this conflict and the attacks on the shipping industry.”
Shiffrin then asked if the attack could have a negative impact on peace efforts, to which Lenderking responded, “We remain 100% committed to peace efforts.” I think we all want to get back to the focus that no matter what else is going on in the region, Yemen can bring an end to the conflict that has been going on for eight years. And ironically, the Yemeni internal peace process I described is at its best stage in eight years of conflict. In fact, the end of the war is beginning to be seen. There is a roadmap agreed upon by the parties to make it happen. Therefore, we must move away from attacks on ships, restore the situation, and return our focus to peace efforts in Yemen. ”
Shiffrin then asked, “And will that peace effort end up empowering the Houthis, who have not shown any desire, at least publicly, to bring the kind of peace to Yemen that you want?” Asked.
“I think peace efforts will have the effect of mollifying the Houthis,” Lenderking said. In other words, with this roadmap I'm describing, no party can get everything it wants. And the Houthis will have to offer compromises. This roadmap has what they want. They have incentives. They seek international legitimacy. And I think the roadmap is one of his ways of getting there. And I think the international committee is very strongly committed to this roadmap and wants to see it through to completion. ”
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