Saudi Envoy Accuses Houthis of Serving Foreign Agendas
RIYADH- Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jaber, accused the Houthi movement on Saturday of turning Yemen into a bargaining tool for foreign powers, saying the group’s actions have prolonged the country’s instability and humanitarian suffering while undermining efforts to achieve peace.
In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Al-Jaber said lasting peace in Yemen could only be achieved through a genuine commitment that prioritises the country’s interests and the welfare of its people over political manoeuvring. He said Saudi Arabia remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at restoring calm and reaching a comprehensive political settlement.
Al-Jaber reaffirmed the Kingdom’s backing for the United Nations’ special envoy to Yemen, describing UN-led mediation as the appropriate path toward a political solution capable of ending years of conflict and alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni population.
The ambassador alleged that the Houthis continue to favour military escalation over dialogue, arguing that the group’s actions serve external interests rather than those of Yemen. He said the movement had transformed Yemen into a tool used by foreign parties to pursue their own objectives at the expense of the country’s security and stability.
He further claimed that civilians living in Houthi-controlled areas continue to face hardship, including hunger and other abuses, while accusing the group of promoting what he described as false narratives to shift attention away from the humanitarian crisis for which he said it bears responsibility.
Addressing humanitarian access, Al-Jaber said Saudi Arabia would continue supporting initiatives to reopen Sanaa International Airport to commercial flights, arguing that such measures would help ease travel for Yemeni civilians. He accused the Houthis of obstructing flights using what he called unjustified reasons.
The ambassador also said the Kingdom remains committed to facilitating the entry of commercial vessels through Hodeidah port to help meet the needs of Yemen’s population. At the same time, he accused the Houthis of continuing attacks on civilian commercial shipping in the Red Sea, saying such actions threaten international maritime navigation and regional security.
Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen’s internationally recognised government throughout the conflict and has repeatedly said it supports a negotiated political settlement under UN auspices. The Kingdom has also maintained that humanitarian assistance and efforts to restore essential transport links should continue alongside diplomatic initiatives.
Al-Jaber said Saudi Arabia would continue supporting the Yemeni people and the internationally recognised government until security, stability and peace are restored across the country.
The Houthi movement was not immediately quoted in the statements and did not respond within the material provided.
