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U.S. Envoy Held Talks With Houthi Rebels of Yemen U.S. Envoy Held Talks With Houthi Rebels of Yemen
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — A senior State Department official held talks last week with the Houthi rebels of Yemen, opening a new round of diplomacy aimed at persuading the warring factions in that country to participate in a peace conference in Geneva, American officials said Tuesday.WASHINGTON — A senior State Department official held talks last week with the Houthi rebels of Yemen, opening a new round of diplomacy aimed at persuading the warring factions in that country to participate in a peace conference in Geneva, American officials said Tuesday.
The meetings, the first direct encounter between American officials and the Houthis, came just before the release on Monday of Casey L. Coombs, an American freelance journalist who had been held by the rebels.The meetings, the first direct encounter between American officials and the Houthis, came just before the release on Monday of Casey L. Coombs, an American freelance journalist who had been held by the rebels.
Anne W. Patterson, the Obama administration’s top diplomat for the Near East, held meetings last week in Oman to discuss the violence in Yemen and the capture of several Americans by the Houthis, said Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman.Anne W. Patterson, the Obama administration’s top diplomat for the Near East, held meetings last week in Oman to discuss the violence in Yemen and the capture of several Americans by the Houthis, said Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman.
Ms. Harf said “representatives of the Houthi” participated in the Oman discussions. She said Ms. Patterson also traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of a “broad engagement with elements of the Yemeni political spectrum.” Ms. Harf said “representatives of the Houthi” had participated in the Oman discussions. She said Ms. Patterson had also traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of a “broad engagement with elements of the Yemeni political spectrum.”
She said that the meetings were intended to “reinforce our view that there can only be a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, and that all parties, including the Houthi, should commit to participation in the U.N.-led political process.” The meetings were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.She said that the meetings were intended to “reinforce our view that there can only be a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, and that all parties, including the Houthi, should commit to participation in the U.N.-led political process.” The meetings were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Mr. Coombs, who has written for a number of publications, including The Intercept, The American Prospect and Time magazine, was seized by Houthi militiamen in Sana, the Yemeni capital, in mid-May. American officials said he was now in Muscat, the capital of Oman.Mr. Coombs, who has written for a number of publications, including The Intercept, The American Prospect and Time magazine, was seized by Houthi militiamen in Sana, the Yemeni capital, in mid-May. American officials said he was now in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
American officials have not identified the other people they believe are being held in Yemen by the Houthis, a Shiite group that took control of Yemen’s capital this year and forced out the government.American officials have not identified the other people they believe are being held in Yemen by the Houthis, a Shiite group that took control of Yemen’s capital this year and forced out the government.
In addition to being an opportunity to free an American citizen, the new diplomatic intervention in Yemen reflected a broader initiative to help broker an end to a conflict that Washington fears could fuel a broader war between Saudi Arabia, a largely Sunni Muslim nation, and Shiite-dominated Iran, which has supported the Houthis.In addition to being an opportunity to free an American citizen, the new diplomatic intervention in Yemen reflected a broader initiative to help broker an end to a conflict that Washington fears could fuel a broader war between Saudi Arabia, a largely Sunni Muslim nation, and Shiite-dominated Iran, which has supported the Houthis.
The Pentagon has been providing intelligence and advice on targets to the Saudi-led coalition in its air campaign against the Houthis, in what American and Saudi officials had hoped would be a quick and decisive campaign. It has not worked out that way.The Pentagon has been providing intelligence and advice on targets to the Saudi-led coalition in its air campaign against the Houthis, in what American and Saudi officials had hoped would be a quick and decisive campaign. It has not worked out that way.
There are limits to Washington’s influence over Saudi Arabia, especially under its relatively new monarch, King Salman. The difficulty of finding a political solution to the crisis was underscored last month by Saudi Arabia’s resumption of airstrikes against the Houthis only hours after it abruptly declared a halt to most military operations. The move also showed the challenges facing the Obama administration as it increasingly relies on allies in the Middle East. There are limits to Washington’s influence over Saudi Arabia, especially under its relatively new monarch, King Salman. The difficulty of finding a political solution to the crisis was underscored last month by Saudi Arabia’s resumption of airstrikes against the Houthis only hours after it had abruptly declared a halt to most military operations. The move also showed the challenges facing the Obama administration as it increasingly relies on allies in the Middle East.
Medical and relief organizations say the airstrikes have killed hundreds of civilians, and there has been growing international pressure, including from the Obama administration, to rein them in, as well as to lift an embargo on food, fuel, water and medicines that has contributed to a growing humanitarian catastrophe. Medical and relief organizations say the airstrikes have killed hundreds of civilians, and pressure has been building, internationally and from the Obama administration, to rein them in and to lift an embargo on food, fuel, water and medicines that has contributed to a growing humanitarian catastrophe.
It was unclear how Saudi Arabia would respond to the American diplomatic intervention with the Houthi rebels. A spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment on Tuesday. It was unclear how Saudi Arabia would respond to the American diplomatic intervention with the Houthis. A spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment on Tuesday.
The challenge for American officials has been to advise Saudi Arabia, a crucial Middle East ally, on how to carry out a complex military campaign whose results are starting to undercut larger political goals.The challenge for American officials has been to advise Saudi Arabia, a crucial Middle East ally, on how to carry out a complex military campaign whose results are starting to undercut larger political goals.
Secretary of State John Kerry and John O. Brennan, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, have met in recent weeks with their Saudi counterparts, and Mr. Obama hosted a meeting at Camp David last month that was attended by top Saudi princes.Secretary of State John Kerry and John O. Brennan, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, have met in recent weeks with their Saudi counterparts, and Mr. Obama hosted a meeting at Camp David last month that was attended by top Saudi princes.
The Saudis have responded to the international pressure by recasting the air campaign to blame the Houthis for provoking airstrikes and delaying a deal to end the fighting. With hundreds of such strikes, Saudi Arabia has destroyed military installations around Yemen, including those belonging to counterterrorism troops trained by the United States. The Saudis have responded to the international pressure by recasting the air campaign, blaming the Houthis for provoking airstrikes and for delaying a deal to end the fighting. With hundreds of such strikes, Saudi Arabia has destroyed military installations around Yemen, including those belonging to counterterrorism troops trained by the United States.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in the two months since the bombing campaign began, and more than 150,000 have been displaced, according to relief organizations.More than 1,000 people have been killed in the two months since the bombing campaign began, and more than 150,000 have been displaced, according to relief organizations.