UN Envoy to Yemen Calls on All Parties to Engage in Dialogue and Maintain De-escalation

Aden, July 13 (KUNA) -- UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg called on all parties on Monday to engage in dialogue and negotiations under UN auspices to find a way forward that preserves the relative calm Yemen has experienced since 2022 and makes progress toward a sustainable end to the conflict. In a statement received by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Grundberg said he was closely monitoring developments in Yemen’s airspace and airports, adding that he was deeply concerned about the risks of escalation widening. He noted that he had held intensive contacts with all parties, while his office continued to liaise with military representatives from all sides. He urged everyone to de-escalate and refrain from taking any actions that could trigger a new round of violence in Yemen. The Yemeni Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that the Yemeni Armed Forces had targeted the runway of Sanaa International Airport, which is controlled by Houthi militias, to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing in Yemen. These developments came amid reports circulated by local and Arab media about an Iranian plane taking off to return the Houthi militia delegation that had participated in the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Sanaa, after the Yemeni government had previously refused to grant it permission to overfly and land at Sanaa Airport last Friday. (End) S.N.S. / M.A.H.A.