US envoy says ground intervention in Yemen appears pointless

DOHA — US special envoy Tom Barrack said on Tuesday that Washington is providing logistical support to Saudi Arabia, but that a US ground intervention in the conflict involving Yemen's Houthis "appears pointless," according to Anadolu, as reported by Middle East Monitor.

Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha, Qatar, Barrack said President Donald Trump supports Saudi Arabia logistically amid escalating hostilities between the kingdom and the Houthi group. He urged Middle Eastern countries to build regional alliances rather than rely on Washington to resolve their problems.

Barrack questioned the effectiveness of military intervention against the Houthis. He said negotiations involving Saudi Arabia, the group and regional mediators offered a better option.

He also said the United States was redefining its role in the Middle East. According to the report, Washington is moving away from direct control and intervention and toward supporting regional countries in managing their own security. He said the US was not abandoning its partners but could no longer be expected to resolve every regional conflict.

The source did not give further details on any US plans for Yemen. It also did not say whether the proposed negotiations had begun.

Background

The remarks came as hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis escalated. According to the report, the Saudi-led coalition was carrying out operations, although the source text was cut off before giving details. The report also referred to a UN statement that more than 230,000 people had been displaced by fighting in Yemen since August.

Barrack also spoke about Iran. He said the US wants a peaceful agreement with Tehran and that Trump remained willing to negotiate. He named mediation efforts by Qatar, Oman, Pakistan and Switzerland, and said a lack of trust between Washington and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remained a major obstacle.