France condemns Yemen’s Houthis

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has today condemned the Houthi rebels for their attacks on civilians.

“France condemns the continued violence in Yemen, including the rebel attack on 17 March on the mosque inside the Kofel military base and the bombardment on 18 March of a boat transporting refugees,” said a ministry press statement. “Many civilians were killed in these attacks.”

There was no mention of the Saudi-led coalition’s continuous bombardment of the country.

The French comments came after Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault met the UN Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to discuss the political situation in the country. Ayrault told the UN official that the position taken by the French government is to find a political solution to the conflict.

Au Quai d'Orsay, entretien avec Ismaïl Ould Cheikh Ahmed, envoyé spécial du secrétaire général des Nations unies pour le Yémen pic.twitter.com/QfVHM8rokc

— Jean-Marc Ayrault (@jeanmarcayrault) March 14, 2017

Translation: At the Quai d’Orsay, interview with Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, UN Special Envoy for Yemen

Au #Yémen, il y a une crise humanitaire que la logique de guerre ne peut pas résoudre.

— Jean-Marc Ayrault (@jeanmarcayrault) March 14, 2017

Translation: In Yemen, there is a humanitarian crisis that cannot be solved by war