Yemeni Armed Forces Ready to Secure Bab al-Mandab, Strategic Waterways

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)
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Yemeni Armed Forces Ready to Secure Bab al-Mandab, Strategic Waterways

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Governor of Marib and Chief of Staff during a previous visit to the fronts in Marib (Saba)

Brigadier General Abdo Magli, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, confirmed their capability to counter Houthi threats and secure vital waterways, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key global trade route.
He highlighted the urgency of regional and international efforts to address ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial and oil vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, which threaten international trade stability.
Magli noted that Houthi assaults on maritime navigation align with Iran’s regional ambitions and exacerbate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, undermining peace efforts. He called for decisive global action to curb the militia’s threats and maintain the safety of strategic trade routes.
On the ground, the Yemeni Armed Forces recently repelled Houthi infiltration attempts in several fronts in Marib and Taiz. Magli reported that the army neutralized Houthi artillery attacks and monitored militia movements, maintaining strong defensive positions. He also highlighted ongoing Houthi attacks on civilian areas in Taiz, describing the militia’s use of artillery and drones as part of their broader aggression.
The spokesperson underscored the growing strength and professionalism of the Yemeni Armed Forces, emphasizing their readiness to confront Houthi militias and their Iranian-backed agenda. He also warned of the Houthis’ continued mobilization in areas under their control, aimed at subjugating the Yemeni population.
Magli called for international cooperation to end the Houthi militia’s aggression, which threatens regional stability and global trade. He reaffirmed the Yemeni military’s commitment to securing the country’s waterways and protecting its people from ongoing threats.

 

 



Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
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Biden: Joseph Aoun is ‘First-Rate Guy’

FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)
FILE - President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool, File)

US President Joe Biden welcomed the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president on Thursday, saying in a statement that the army chief was the “right leader” for the country.

“President Aoun has my confidence. I believe strongly he is the right leader for this time,” said Biden, adding that Aoun would provide “critical leadership” in overseeing an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Aoun's election by Lebanese lawmakers ended a more than two-year vacancy and could mark a step towards lifting the country out of financial meltdown.

“We finally have a president,” Biden said later, at the end of a meeting on the response to major wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles.

He said he had spoken to Aoun by phone on Thursday for “20 minutes to half an hour,” describing the Lebanese leader as a “first-rate guy.”

Biden pledged to continue US support for Lebanon’s security forces, and for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction, the White House said in a readout of Biden’s call with Aoun.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Aoun's election “a moment of historic opportunity,” which offered Lebanon a chance to “establish durable peace and stability.”

Aoun, who turned 61 on Friday, faces the difficult task of overseeing the fragile ceasefire with Israel in south Lebanon.

Separately, Biden spoke about the hostage talks between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“We’re making some real progress,” he told reporters at the White House, adding that he had spoken with US negotiators earlier Thursday.

“I know hope springs eternal, but I’m still hopeful that we’ll be able to have a prisoner exchange.”

Biden added: “Hamas is the one getting in the way of that exchange right now, but I think we may be able to get that done. We need to get it done.”