Hospitals bombed. Children recruited to fight. Schools turned to rubble. We could be describing Aleppo, Syria. But this is happening in Yemen, right now! 21 million Yemenis are in need of humanitarian assistance. Over 3 million are internally displaced.
What caused this crisis? In January 2015, Shia Houthi factions backed by former President Saleh overthrew Yemeni President Hadi. In March of the same year a Saudi-led coalition began an air campaign against insurgents with the aim to restore the internationally-recognized government. Willingly or not, the U.S. is also involved. Al Qaeda in the Arabic Peninsula (AQAP), whose leaders the U.S. has been targeting, has expanded its territory in Yemen and is thriving on the chaos. Because of its logistical support to the coalition, the U.S. government is also accused of aiding and abetting war crimes. Yet it is not too late to act. Working with the international community, the U.S. has the capacity to end the crisis or, at least should feel obligated to try.
The U.S. should use its influence to build a diplomatic initiative that is audacious, inclusive and comprehensive. This should start by taking the lead of a Contact Group on Yemen under the UN framework. The Group includes Iran, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the EU, and Russia.
The goal is to facilitate dialogue between the deposed Yemeni government and the Houthi forces linked to ex-President Saleh. The initial focus would be on humanitarian relief followed by an independent inquiry into alleged human rights violations and, eventually, recommendations for political settlement and peacebuilding measures.
Because the U.S. has multiple leverage points to bring parties to the table, it can succeed where the UN Special Envoy has failed. With Iran, the U.S. could delay the lifting of the sanctions as agreed to in the Iran deal. It could also threaten to retaliate against the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps that have been challenging American vessels in the Persian Gulf. In Yemen, the legitimacy of the Hadi government rests largely on U.S. political and diplomatic support. Finally, the U.S. government can make its military support conditional on Saudi Arabia’s decision to unilaterally end airstrikes. In turn, the Saudis will exert pressure on Hadi, while the Iranians put pressure on Saleh.
Acting through the UN creates a level-playing field. It reduces the U.S. identification with the coalition and bolsters its credibility as a mediator. It means all parties are held to the same standards of accountability. The balanced composition of the group also reassures both sides that their position will be taken into consideration.
A strong diplomatic initiative also advances regional dialogue. The Middle East has been plagued long enough by confrontations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Contact Group brings relevant stakeholders to the same table and can pave the way for a more permanent structure to address regional concerns.