Amid escalating tensions in Yemen, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, held the regime in Iran “responsible for the region’s crises,” noting that militias affiliated with Tehran in Yemen, Syria, and other countries were seeking to fulfill Iranian interests.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Alimi called upon the Houthi rebels to lift the siege on the city of Taiz as a critical step towards achieving peace in the region. He emphasized the importance of Saudi Arabia’s mediation efforts and highlighted the detrimental impact of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, attributing them to benefiting Iran rather than Gaza.
Speaking from the Maashiq presidential palace in Aden, Al-Alimi who succeeded former President Abed Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in April 2022, leads a council comprising members from various anti-Houthi political factions and military entities. He emphasized the council’s commitment to peace, stating its dedication to the Saudi-led peace efforts and endorsing a roadmap aimed at initiating the peace process based on international resolutions and previous agreements.
Regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Al-Alimi emphasized the need for establishing an independent Palestinian state in line with the Arab Peace Initiative to resolve the crisis.
#Iran News in Brief
Former #IRGCterrorists Chief Yahya Rahim-Safavi: "From Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen… you see what the Yemenis are doing. We have no choice but to extend the depth of our national defense and security. Our strategic defense depth lies in the… pic.twitter.com/lIZOkCoYcj— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 9, 2024
Expressing concern over Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Al-Alimi likened the siege of Taiz to the blockade of Gaza, urging the Houthis to prioritize lifting the blockade on Yemeni civilians. He warned against the militarization of the Red Sea due to such attacks, which has led to increased hardships for Yemeni citizens and rising shipping costs.
Al-Alimi stressed the importance of restoring state authority across Yemen to counter the Houthi threat effectively. While acknowledging recent airstrikes by the US and UK on Houthi bases, he emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach involving the restoration of state control with international support to secure the Red Sea.
#Iran News in Brief
Iran's #IRGCterrorists' ship, Behshad, exposed by French magazine @LEXPRESS for alleged role in Yemen conflict. Detailed report sheds light on covert activities guiding Houthi missile attacks in the Red Sea.https://t.co/DlYenR5kAF pic.twitter.com/o2h2bGujtd— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 11, 2024
