By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON

The only way to solve the conflict in Yemen is through a political solution, the UN Security Council (UNSC) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the council welcomes consultations with representatives from all parties in Yemen and supports a UN-led political process in the country.

According to the statement, the council members expressed their full support the efforts of Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Martin Griffiths to bring about a political settlement.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that there can only be a political solution to the conflict in Yemen," read the statement.

Representatives from all parties in Yemen are scheduled to meet Thursday with Griffiths in Geneva.

The council urges all parties to "seize this opportunity to de-escalate tensions" and to "take a first step towards ending a conflict that has brought severe pain and humanitarian suffering to the Yemeni people".

"These initial consultations will be a necessary and important step towards the comprehensive and inclusive security and political agreements that will be required to resolve the conflict, improve the humanitarian situation, and bring peace, prosperity and security to all Yemenis," it said.

The council also calls for the implementation of several resolutions including UN resolution 2216, which was adopted in 2015 and imposes an arms embargo on individuals identified by the Security Council.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen," the statement added.

Impoverished Yemen has remained wracked by conflict since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated the following year when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a wide-ranging air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.

The violence has devastated the country’s infrastructure, prompting the UN to describe the situation as “one of the worst humanitarian disasters of modern times”.