The United States has reportedly requested that Yemen’s internationally recognized government contribute to the international force slated for deployment in the Gaza Strip. This request is part of President Donald Trump’s broader peace plan for the region, according to Yemeni officials.
Last Monday, the UN Security Council approved a resolution endorsing President Trump’s plan, which includes the deployment of an international stabilization force in Gaza following prisoner exchanges. This force would be responsible for securing Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, as well as disarming the territory and dismantling what the resolution termed “non-governmental armed groups.”
However, the plan faces significant hurdles, primarily due to the reluctance of many Arab and Islamic nations to participate in a force that could potentially clash with Palestinian resistance factions. Several Yemeni government sources, including a high-ranking diplomat, a military official, and a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the Yemeni government has not yet made a final decision regarding its participation.
The Presidential Council official and the Yemeni diplomat both suggested that any contribution to the international force would likely be largely symbolic. A senior military official stated that while the matter of Yemeni participation had been discussed with American counterparts, they had “not yet received a formal request to join the force.”
“If we participate, it would not exceed sending a number of officers or soldiers to the operations room for logistical purposes, and they would not participate in any other operations,” the diplomat explained, adding, “The problem is that we cannot say no.”
When questioned about the American request, a US State Department spokesperson stated, “We will not go into details of private diplomatic conversations,” adding, “As the President has said… there will be great announcements in the coming weeks.”
Yemen is currently embroiled in a conflict between the government and the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, which they seized in 2014. Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, opposes the establishment of this international force. Furthermore, the participation of Yemen’s internationally recognized government is likely to provoke the ire of the Houthis.
The situation remains fluid, and the composition and role of the international force are still under negotiation.
