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Syria Returns Yemeni Embassy in Damascus to Legitimate Gov’t

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Saba News)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Saba News)
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Syria Returns Yemeni Embassy in Damascus to Legitimate Gov’t

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Saba News)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak (Saba News)

The officially recognized Yemeni government has announced that it received an invitation from the Syrian government to reclaim its embassy in Damascus, following the eviction of the Houthi group’s representative from the premises.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Syrian side informed the Yemeni government of the decision to hand over the Yemeni mission in Damascus to the legitimate Yemeni government on Wednesday.

Mubarak pointed out that his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, informed him of this action, and the Houthi group’s representative was asked to hand over the embassy building and leave.

According to the Yemeni minister, the government is in the process of appointing a diplomatic mission to begin its tasks in Damascus soon.

Observers predicted that a similar step could come from Tehran.

The Houthi group’s ambassador, Ibrahim al-Deilami, still maintains control over the Yemen embassy’s headquarters in Tehran, despite the legitimate Yemeni government’s opposition.

These developments come in the wake of Arab reconciliation efforts led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, starting with the recent historic Jeddah summit, attended by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which marked Syria's return to the Arab League after an approximately 12-year suspension.

Furthermore, the resumption of Saudi-Iranian relations in March had positive implications for various regional issues, notably the Yemeni crisis, according to observers.

Mubarak pointed out that these positive outcomes are the “result of meetings held with the Syrian side in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt,” emphasizing Yemen's support for all Arab reconciliation efforts, reunification, and the resolution of conflicts.

Yemeni political and media consultant, Lutfi Naaman, sees the Syrian move as the beginning of a “new chapter in the official relations between the two countries under regional agreements.”

“We are now waiting for the decision of the Iranian authorities,” Naaman told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Back in September 2014, the Houthi group, which took control of the Yemeni capital Sanaa, had appointed diplomatic missions in both Tehran and Damascus.

This was met with opposition from the legitimate Yemeni government, which called on both countries to respect international diplomatic norms and conventions.

A senior member of the Houthi government appeared to confirm the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

While there has been no official statement from the Syrian government, sources in Damascus informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the decision to remove the Houthi presence is seen as an attempt to revive Syria’s rapprochement with Arab nations.

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US Delegation Inspects Destroyed Hezbollah Site in South Lebanon

A Lebanese Army soldier escorts a military bulldozer clearing roads in southern Lebanon (Directorate of Guidance). 
A Lebanese Army soldier escorts a military bulldozer clearing roads in southern Lebanon (Directorate of Guidance). 
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US Delegation Inspects Destroyed Hezbollah Site in South Lebanon

A Lebanese Army soldier escorts a military bulldozer clearing roads in southern Lebanon (Directorate of Guidance). 
A Lebanese Army soldier escorts a military bulldozer clearing roads in southern Lebanon (Directorate of Guidance). 

A US delegation, accompanied by a large Lebanese Army force, inspected a former Hezbollah military site previously bombed by Israel in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif, located on the northern bank of the Litani River.

This visit coincided with a field patrol by a French unit from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the Wadi al-Hujayr area, and came as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged the UNIFIL commander that the “continued Israeli occupation of the five hills must end as soon as possible.”

Aoun informed UNIFIL Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro—during a meeting at Baabda Palace with a UNIFIL delegation—that the Lebanese Army “continues to deploy in the southern villages and towns vacated by Israel, working to clear them of landmines and eliminate all armed presences, despite the vast and rugged nature of the southern terrain, which makes the task time-consuming.”

Aoun emphasized that the “continued Israeli occupation of the five hills must end promptly to ensure stability and security along the southern border, paving the way for the return of displaced residents.”

He also stated that the recruitment process for 4,500 soldiers, as approved by the Cabinet, is ongoing.

“These troops, along with the existing forces, will help establish security in the South and implement Resolution 1701 in cooperation with UNIFIL, whose efforts in coordination with the army we highly value,” according to a statement from the Lebanese Presidency.

Lazaro, for his part, discussed the outcomes of his recent meetings at the UN Security Council, particularly Lebanon’s request to renew UNIFIL’s mandate. He confirmed “the high level of coordination with the Lebanese Army deployed in the South, which is fully carrying out its responsibilities with the support and coordination of UNIFIL.”

On the political front, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed the Lebanese government’s commitment to security, stability, and extending sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, noting that this sovereign stance protects Lebanon and its people and opens the door to recovery on various fronts.

On the ground, local media reported that the US delegation toured the Dabsh area in Yohmor al-Shaqif, where previous Israeli airstrikes had destroyed a Hezbollah military site. The site was reportedly used by Hezbollah as a “monitoring point.”

This visit carries significant field and political implications, as Yohmor is a strategically vital town in southern Lebanon due to its elevation on the north bank of the Litani River and its view over northern Israel. While it lies north of the Litani, Israel includes it within the zone it believes should fall under the same restrictions as the area south of the river.

According to the Central News Agency, the US delegation spent more than half an hour in the area, moving in a convoy of SUVs accompanied by Lebanese Army vehicles, before leaving as part of a broader tour of several points in the South.

The US team also visited Wadi al-Hujayr, accompanied by Lebanese Army personnel. In parallel, a French UNIFIL unit conducted search patrols in the wooded areas of the valley, looking for potential Hezbollah installations. This valley is considered one of the South’s most strategic locations and has frequently been used by Hezbollah for surveillance and storage. The patrols reflect the scope of international coordination and the strict monitoring of the ceasefire terms.

According to available information, Hezbollah has so far handed over around 190 of its 265 military sites located south of the Litani. Other reports suggest the group has dismantled more than 500 military positions.

Israeli media has also noted these developments. The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted an Israeli military official as saying: “The situation continues to evolve, and we must work constantly to prevent Hezbollah’s return.” He added that the Lebanese Army is taking action against the group beyond what was expected before the ceasefire. The paper noted that while Israel still has the desire to intervene, “the situation in Lebanon is no longer what it used to be.”

Ongoing Israeli Violations

Despite these developments, Israeli violations in the South continue. Artillery shelling was reported in the Suddaneh area near the town of Shebaa, along with bulldozing activity near the edge of Adaisseh. Israeli drones were also seen flying intensively over the Bekaa Valley and western sectors.