UN Envoy Says STC Decision in Yemen ‘Disappointing’

United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths. (Reuters)
United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths. (Reuters)
TT
20

UN Envoy Says STC Decision in Yemen ‘Disappointing’

United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths. (Reuters)
United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths. (Reuters)

United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths expressed on Monday his “disappointment” with the Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) declaration of self-rule in southern Yemen, calling for the immediate implementation of the Riyadh Agreement.

“The latest turn of events is disappointing, especially as the city of Aden and other areas in the south have yet to recover from flooding and are facing the risk of COVID-19,” he said in a statement.

He further called for expediting the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement, with the support of the Coalition led by Saudi Arabia.

The success of this agreement should deliver benefits to the people in the south, particularly in terms of improved public services and security, stressed Griffiths.

“Now, more than ever, all political actors must cooperate in good faith, refrain from taking escalatory actions, and put the interests of Yemenis first”, he stated.

“The Riyadh Agreement provides for the participation of the STC in consultations on the final political solution to end the conflict in Yemen and serving the interests of Yemenis nation-wide,” he added.

The European Union expressed its rejection of the STC announcement.

Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano in a statement to reporters in Brussels considered the move as an impediment to UN efforts to reach stability and peace in Yemen.

"There is an agreement reached in November in Saudi Arabia that helps to reduce the escalation in Yemen. We call on the Yemeni government and all parties to implement all terms of the peace agreement."

Stano stressed that the STC’s move "will bring problems and obstacles to the United Nations efforts to reach peace and stability in Yemen."



Israel Says it Carried Out Warning Strike on 'Extremists' in Syria Threatening Druze

Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
TT
20

Israel Says it Carried Out Warning Strike on 'Extremists' in Syria Threatening Druze

Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI
Syrian security forces secure the area following armed clashes in Jaramana town, near Damascus, Syria, 29 April 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI

The Israeli military carried out a warning strike against "extremists" preparing to attack members of the Druze minority in the Syrian town of Sahnaya, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday in a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz.

"The IDF (military) carried out a warning action and struck the organization of an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya, in the Damascus region of Syria," said the statement.

The Israeli announcement came after an eruption of deadly sectarian violence in predominantly Druze areas near Damascus.

The Israeli statement also said a message "was passed on to the Syrian regime - Israel expects it to act in order to prevent harm to the Druze."

A spokesman for Syria's interior ministry, speaking to Reuters from Sahnaya said he had no indication that an attack had taken place.