Yemen calls for UNSC-backed ground operation

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Yemeni Ambassador to the UN Khalid Al-Yamani urged the council to approve a ground operation in his country, mainly in Taiz and Aden, Arabi21 reported yesterday.

Al-Yamani urged international bodies to document the “barbaric” human rights violations against unarmed civilians.

Meanwhile, reports said that the UN Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Riyadh yesterday to discuss a potential “truce” in Yemen. The reports spoke about the killing of tens of civilians when they were trying to flee battles in Yemen.

Kerry met with the new Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Nayef and is scheduled to meet with King Salman as well as Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Before leaving Djibouti heading to Riyadh, Kerry told reporters that he would discuss the implementation mechanisms of the potential truce in Yemen with officials in Saudi. The Secretary of State said he was confident of Saudi’s desire to accept a truce.

Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arabic coalition against the Houthi militias in Yemen, who are being supported by Iran and have been controlling a wide area of the country.