Houthis continue to refuse international peace proposals

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad bin Awad bin Mubarak described on Thursday the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ ongoing rejection of peace calls as an “insult to the international community.”

Bin Mubarak met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara.

He called for an end to what he described as a policy of appeasement towards the Houthis and instead urged the adoption of a new approach that would put a stop to meddling in the security of the region and the world.

Official sources said the FMs discussed the “terrorist Houthi practices and crimes against the Yemeni people”. They also tackled the repercussions of their escalation and threats on the humanitarian crisis and economic situation in Yemen.

Bin Mubarak said his government had made concessions throughout all rounds of negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict, leading up to the adoption of the United Nations-sponsored truce in April in spite of the obstacles set by the Houthis and their rejection of the most basic conditions for the ceasefire, starting with reopening routes to and lifting the siege on Taiz city.

He called on the international community to hold the militias to account for their violations against the Yemeni people, back the legitimate government and designate the Houthis as terrorist.

Meanwhile, a Omani delegation had arrived in the Houthi-held Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as part of efforts to persuade the militias to agree to the new truce proposals with the aim of reaching lasting peace.

Truce efforts have stalled for months after the Houthis' refused in October of all UN proposals to renew and expand the ceasefire.