Tensions in Yemen escalated after Shia President Ali Abdullah Saleh was deposed in 2012 and his Houthi supporters – reportedly aided by Iran – eventually seized the capital city of Sanaa in 2014.
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Visiting the city of Jeddah, Secretary of State John Kerry announced a deal with Saudi Arabia on a new “peace initiative” related to the ongoing Saudi invasion of Yemen.
Zeid, who is also a member of the Jordanian royal family, did not specify who would set up the worldwide body, but he is expected to present the report’s findings to the U.N. Human Rights Council at its session next month.
For their part, Saudi Arabia’s coalition partners, notably the U.S. and UAE, are likely to reduce their support for the Saudi campaign against the Houthi, instead diverting resources to fight the Sunni jihadists in south Yemen.
The United States and Gulf states have discussed a new plan to join Houthi militia group in a unity government for ending conflict in Yemen.
On Thursday, the United Nations human rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, called for an global investigation into rights abuses and violence in Yemen’s civil war, insisting that a domestic panel set up to look into violations has not been up to the task.
The meetings come as UN-mediated peace talks to bring an end to the war in Yemen were suspended earlier this month.
He is also set to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Alawi bin Abdullah before a meeting with other Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. On August 15, an airstrike on a MSF facility killed 19 people and injured 24.
Both the Saudi-led coalition and the opposing Houthis have been accused of abuses against citizens of the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula. The United States is also providing critical support to improve the capacity of Hudaydah Port to receive humanitarian and commercial supplies.
Kerry met Saudi King Salman ahead of wider talks focusing on the conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Libya with other Gulf Arab officials. “We’re happy to see you in good form”, Kerry said, before reporters were ushered from the room.
“In numerous situations where military targets could be identified, there remain serious concerns as to whether the incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects that could be expected from the attack were not excessive in relation to the anticipated concrete and direct military advantage apparently sought”, the report said. The fire in Najran was put out without casualties, the report said, without giving further details.
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The two men were joined by other global diplomats today to talk about ways to break the impasse and revive talks on forming a national unity government for Yemen.
