U.S. Yemen envoy heads to Gulf after attacks, to press for peacemaking

Washington has condemned the Houthi strike against the UAE, one of the United States' leading Gulf Arab allies. On Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Pentagon said.

The U.S. special envoy for Yemen will visit the Gulf this week to try and reinvigorate the peace process, the State Department said on Wednesday, after a spate of attacks in the war between Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition.

Envoy Tim Lenderking "will press the parties to de-escalate militarily and seize the new year to participate fully in an inclusive U.N.-led peace process," it said in a statement. Lenderking will also focus on the "urgent need to mitigate the dire humanitarian and economic crises facing Yemenis". His visit follows further strikes this week that took the war to a new level. On Monday, a drone and missile attack on coalition partner the United Arab Emirates killed three people and was claimed by the Houthis.

Early on Tuesday, the coalition carried out air strikes on the Houthi-held Yemeni capital Sanaa, killing at least 20 people including civilians, according to Houthi media and residents - one of its deadliest attacks since 2019. Washington has condemned the Houthi strike against the UAE, one of the United States' leading Gulf Arab allies.

On Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Pentagon said. "Austin conveyed his condolences for the loss of life, and underscored his unwavering support for the security and defense of UAE territory against all threats," the Pentagon added.

The UAE has called for the U.N. Security Council to weigh in on the attack. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern regarding the coalition air strikes as well as condemned the attack on the UAE, his spokesman said.

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