Yemen's Alimi: Mahrah is No Longer Isolated

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)
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Yemen's Alimi: Mahrah is No Longer Isolated

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi confirmed that the al-Mahrah governorate is no longer isolated and has become at the heart of the battle against the Houthi militias.

Alimi directed adopting the Mehri language and preserving it as one of the most critical aspects of the global heritage.

Speaking before the local authority, security, military leaders, and various figures in the governorate, Alimi praised the remarkable efforts of the local authority in the governorate and its security services in combating the smuggling of weapons, drugs, and organized crime.

Alimi, and the accompanying delegation, arrived in Mahrah on Wednesday on his first visit to the governorate bordering Oman since he assumed the presidential position in April last year.

According to the official Yemeni News Agency (Saba), Alimi will inaugurate during his visit and lay the foundation stone for several service and development projects.

The Chairman recalled the status of Mahrah in Yemeni history, the Mehri language throughout the ages, and its role in alleviating the humanitarian crisis, as it is an eastern gateway to Yemen.

He also described the governorate as a haven for tens of thousands of displaced people, pledging to make it a top priority and enable its people to manage their administrative affairs.

Alimi affirmed the commitment of the Leadership Council and the government to boosting the role of its local authorities, supporting its efforts to achieve security and stability, and improving essential services in its various directorates, as reported by Saba.

He called on the people of Mahrah to be vigilant in the face of the danger of terrorist organizations and groups.

- An invitation to invest

Alimi expressed happiness at visiting Mahrah and meeting with its local and community leaders to serve its citizens and alleviate their suffering exacerbated by the Houthi attacks on oil facilities and international shipping lines.

He acknowledged the difficult conditions that the governorate is going through, indicating that government interventions are required to alleviate the suffering of its citizens with the support of brotherly countries, namely Saudi Arabia and its humanitarian and development programs.

The President called on investors and businessmen to take advantage of the promising opportunities, noting the commitment of the Leadership Council and the government to boost the role of local authorities, support their efforts to achieve security and stability, and improve essential services.

He lauded the unique political, cultural, and social diversity in Mahrah, representing a living embodiment of coexistence and societal harmony.

Mahrah is strategically important, bordering Oman over 550 km with two border crossings, Sharifat and Shaheen, and Nishtun port, one of the essential Yemeni commercial ports.

Terrorist groups have used the governorate to smuggle weapons, drugs, and terrorist elements.

- Saudi support

Alimi sent a message of thanks and gratitude to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, for supporting the Yemeni people and their political leadership.

He expressed the gratitude and pride of Yemen, its leadership, government, and people for the Kingdom's fraternal stances in various stages and circumstances, leading to its urgent response to support the state's general budget.

He asserted that Saudi Arabia is committed to alleviating human suffering, developing Yemen, and defending the interests and identity of its people.

According to Saba, Alimi thanked the Saudi leadership for the royal directives to accelerate the new aid estimated at $1.2 billion and deposited the first batch.

He indicated that it sent a clear message that Yemen has loyal brothers, and that the Kingdom remains at the forefront of efforts to restore state institutions and achieve the just peace that the Yemeni people deserve.

Alimi also lauded the efforts of Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi team concerned with Yemeni-Saudi relations, and all development and humanitarian programs, namely the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief).



Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).

Discussions are underway on the role of the Lebanese army in maintaining security in South Lebanon amid rising optimism about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701

As part of these preparations, the Lebanese government has begun strengthening the army by recruiting 1,500 new soldiers out of the 6,000 needed, aligning with the outcomes of the Paris Conference held on October 23, which allocated 200 million euros to support the military institution, from a broader package intended to help the Lebanese people during the Israel-Hezbollah war.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, a security official highlighted that the army currently has 4,500 personnel stationed south of the Litani River but requires additional manpower.

The unidentified official noted, however, that any effective deployment would require a political decision and government support. “The Lebanese military will implement Resolution 1701 as is, with no intention of clashing with any party. However, if Israel violates Lebanese sovereignty, the army is fully prepared to respond,” he said.

Although Hezbollah opposes withdrawing from south of the Litani and handing over border security duties to the Lebanese military and UNIFIL, claiming the army lacks the capabilities to defend against Israeli aggression, the security source clarified that the military has been authorized to repel any attacks but will avoid initiating conflict. The army’s expanded deployment depends on a political decision, which, once made, will see the military act without hesitation to uphold Lebanese sovereignty.

While military preparedness is essential, Brigadier General Wehbeh Qatisha argues that Lebanon’s security requires more than just troops or advanced weaponry at the border. The presence of the Lebanese military as a representative of the Lebanese state is also a significant deterrent. He pointed out that prior to 1970, Israel refrained from attacking Lebanon, despite a much smaller army. However, he cautioned that even with a substantial deployment today, the persistence of Hezbollah’s military presence would continue to undermine Lebanon’s stability and security.

Since the 1969 Cairo Agreement, which allowed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to launch operations against Israel from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army has been restricted in its ability to enforce security along the border. After the PLO’s departure in 1982, Hezbollah took over military operations in the South. Even after the 2006 war and the adoption of Resolution 1701, which called for the Lebanese military and UNIFIL to secure the border, Hezbollah retained its armed presence and continued to conduct exercises simulating conflict with Israel. The latter violated the international resolution thousands of times, until the last war broke out against the background of turning southern Lebanon into a front supporting Gaza.

Qatisha emphasized that the path to stability lies in comprehensive implementation of international resolutions, particularly 1701 and 1559, and restricting arms to the Lebanese army. He argued that achieving balanced deterrence requires not only military force but also a commitment to diplomacy and international support.