If Houthis want to join political process

It has been more than two months since a Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in Yemen to restore the legitimate government, force the Houthi militias and soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh to withdraw from key Yemeni cities and provinces, and put an end to Iran’s meddling in that country’s affairs.

The air campaign has achieved some objectives, but not all. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies were able to pass UN Security Resolution 2216, under Chapter 7, which gave the rebels a few days to withdraw from the capital Sanaa and other cities, accept the outcome of the national dialogue that was achieved last year and join a political process to agree on the future of the country.

But the Houthi-Saleh alliance rejected the resolution and stepped up its attacks against Aden and other southern cities and provinces, effectively dragging Yemen into a protracted civil war.

It also boycotted a reconciliation meeting that took place in Riyadh last month. 

Meanwhile, the air campaign continued after a five-day humanitarian truce that the rebels failed to observe, and while the renegade militias continued to press with their assault, local resistance groups began to retaliate and were able to liberate some areas.

A new UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad, tried to hold a meeting for all Yemenis in Geneva. 

But President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has made clear that the rebels must first accept and implement Resolution 2216 for such a meeting to take place.

Politically, as well as militarily, the conflict in Yemen is reaching a deadlock. 

Among the immediate objectives the Arab coalition was able to achieve was to cut off Iran’s supply lines to the Houthi rebels.

The air strikes have hurt the rebels and loosened their grip on some areas, but they have not repulsed them or forced them to yield.

In the absence of a political formula to bring all parties to the negotiation table the Yemeni conflict will drag for many months to come.

The people of Yemen are paying a heavy price for Saleh’s and Houthis’ blind ambitions.

The humanitarian cost has been enormous and UN organisations are warning of a catastrophe.

The rebels committed major war crimes in Aden, Taaz and Al Dale’. They kidnapped journalists, human rights activists and opposition figures, and used them as human shields.

As Ahmad tries to mediate among all the parties involved, including Iran, in a bid to convene the Geneva conference, there is news that Oman has stepped in with its own initiative: holding a meeting between American, Houthi and Iranian officials, at the US request.

While Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government will not support such meeting, it is hoped that the Houthis will seek a political way out.

If they accept to implement the UN resolution, the door will be open to hold a bigger conference in Geneva as soon as possible. 

If not, the Arab coalition has no option but to continue its air campaign. It cannot afford to be seen as giving up on Yemen and its legitimate government.

There are also reports that a Houthi delegation travelled to Moscow to seek political support from Kremlin.

After all is said and done, the Houthis, who are still being viewed as part of the political landscape in Yemen, must decide that their gambit to take over the country will not work. Saudi Arabia is committed to derail their plans no matter the cost.

They must accept the UN resolution and end their partnership with the former president and his gang. 

In return, they will receive certain assurances and will be encouraged to join an inclusive political process based primarily on the outcome of the national dialogue and the GCC initiative on Yemen.

They must also sever relations with Iran, whose interference in Arab affairs has become a major challenge for the Sunni world as sectarian wars rage in Iraq and Syria, and threaten the stability of Lebanon.

The fact that Houthis are viewed as Iran’s agents in Yemen has undermined their credibility.

One person who should not be exempted or given assurances should be the former president, whose role in encouraging the Houthis to take over the capital and derail the political process has caused death and destruction to the country. 

He must be brought to justice for the crimes he committed.

The coming few days will be crucial for the future of Yemen. Saudi Arabia and its allies continue to support a political solution to the Yemeni conflict.

The Houthis will have to make their position clear away from Saleh’s and his renegade generals’ ploys. 

They can still be part of a political process that aims at ending the war and achieving reconciliation.

The writer is a journalist and political commentator based in Amman.