The UN envoy for Yemen was in Sanaa on Monday for talks with rebels aimed at finding a solution to fighting in the port city of Hodeida, which the insurgents hold. Martin Griffiths is set to meet with the Iran-allied Huthi rebels, who control the capital along with the Red Sea city of Hodeida, home to the country’s most valuable port. The British diplomat did not make a statement upon his arrival at the Yemeni capital’s international airport. Griffiths had already been leading UN diplomatic efforts on ending Yemen’s three-year conflict when a UAE-backed government offensive was launched to retake Hodeida port on June 13. The UAE, which is part of a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting on the government’s side since March 2015, has been demanding the rebels withdraw from both the port and city to avoid a military assault on densely-populated Hodeida. Published in Daily Times, July 3rd 2018.