Al-Alimi: Iran-Backed Houthi Coup Causing Massive Destruction in Yemen

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi speaks to the United Nations General Assembly during the Summit for the Future, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 at UN headquarters. (AP)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi speaks to the United Nations General Assembly during the Summit for the Future, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 at UN headquarters. (AP)
TT

Al-Alimi: Iran-Backed Houthi Coup Causing Massive Destruction in Yemen

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi speaks to the United Nations General Assembly during the Summit for the Future, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 at UN headquarters. (AP)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi speaks to the United Nations General Assembly during the Summit for the Future, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 at UN headquarters. (AP)

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi said his country is confronted with deep suffering and hardship caused by the war sparked by the Iran-backed Houthi militias over the past decade.

Speaking at the Summit for the Future ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, he added that the Houthi coup has left massive destruction in all aspects of life in Yemen.

Yemen is enduring one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises that is only being compounded by war, he went on to say.

Yemen has been able to persevere through the ongoing support it is receiving from members of the Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and regional and international partners, and relevant international organizations, al-Alimi stressed.

The legitimate government, he continued, is fighting on three fronts: The first is against Houthi violence, extremism and backwardness. The second is working on addressing the damage caused by the war, and the third is trying to remain abreast of developments.

Furthermore, he revealed that the government was working with members of the international community to draft a strategy that would help Yemen transition from relief to development, and focus on the youths and future, as well as exerting efforts to end the conflict and achieve lasting peace.

Al-Alimi is in New York to attend the General Assembly. He is accompanied by PLC members Aidarus al-Zubaidi and Othman Majali.

Local media said he will discuss with officials the conflict in Yemen, seeking to garner support to achieve peace and for financial and economic reforms.



US Wants to See Israel Scale Back Some of Beirut Strikes as it Targets Hezbollah Stronghold

A cloud of smoke erupts following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on October 19, 2024. (AFP)
A cloud of smoke erupts following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on October 19, 2024. (AFP)
TT

US Wants to See Israel Scale Back Some of Beirut Strikes as it Targets Hezbollah Stronghold

A cloud of smoke erupts following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on October 19, 2024. (AFP)
A cloud of smoke erupts following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on October 19, 2024. (AFP)

The United States would like to see Israel scale back some of its strikes in and around the Lebanese capital of Beirut, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday.

"The number of civilian casualties have been far too high," he told reporters at a G7 defense gathering in the Italian city of Naples.  

"We’d like to see Israel scale back on some of the strikes it’s taking, especially in and around Beirut, and we’d like to see things transition to some sort of negotiation that will allow civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes."

Tens of thousands of people have fled Beirut's southern suburbs - once a densely populated zone that also housed Hezbollah offices and underground installations - since Israel began regularly targeting the zone approximately three weeks ago.

On Saturday afternoon, Israel carried out heavy strikes on several locations in the city's southern suburbs, leaving thick plumes of smoke wafting over the city horizon throughout the evening.

The strikes came as Hezbollah fired salvos of rockets at northern Israel, with one drone directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's holiday home, his spokesman said.  

Austin added that he has raised issue about the security of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with Israeli counterpart.  

Israel informed him it has no intent to target the peacekeepers, who are deployed in the South.