Yemen Refuses to Become Iranian Platform Targeting Neighboring Countries

Houthi militants shout slogans as they ride a pick-up truck in the northwestern Yemeni city of Saada. Reuters
Houthi militants shout slogans as they ride a pick-up truck in the northwestern Yemeni city of Saada. Reuters
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Yemen Refuses to Become Iranian Platform Targeting Neighboring Countries

Houthi militants shout slogans as they ride a pick-up truck in the northwestern Yemeni city of Saada. Reuters
Houthi militants shout slogans as they ride a pick-up truck in the northwestern Yemeni city of Saada. Reuters

The Yemeni government has refused to turn Yemen into an Iranian platform to launch rockets and target neighboring countries, calling on the international community to act quickly to deter the Houthi militias firing ballistic missiles.

Yemeni government spokesman Rajeh Badi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the actions of Houthi militias and their threats confirm that they have become an Iranian tool to plunge the region and the world into wars.

He said that the main objective of Iran's support of these militias is its intention to turn Yemen into a platform for firing rockets at neighboring countries.

The legitimate government refuses to turn Yemen into an Iranian platform to launch rockets in all directions, Badi added, noting that these threats require rapid action from the international community.

He stressed that before the beginning of the conflict in Yemen, the country did not have missiles similar to those fired by the militias on neighboring countries now, the latest of which was the missile launched last Saturday on Riyadh and was intercepted by the Saudi defenses, and he confirmed that they are manufactured in Iran.

For his part, Undersecretary of Yemen's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mansour Bajash told Asharq Al-Awsat that the militia's missile attacks are part of a strategy long planned by Iran, adding that the strategy is being implemented by Iran's proxies in a number of countries.

Bajash also said that Houthi militias also threatened to strike shipping lanes in the Bab el-Mandeb straits and the Red Sea with various missiles, which requires intervention by the international community.



Syria Announces 200 Percent Public Sector Wage, Pension Increase

FILE PHOTO: Bundles of Syrian currency notes are stacked up as an employee counts money at Syrian central bank, in Damascus,Syria, January 12, 2025. REUTERS/Firas Makdesi/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Bundles of Syrian currency notes are stacked up as an employee counts money at Syrian central bank, in Damascus,Syria, January 12, 2025. REUTERS/Firas Makdesi/File Photo
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Syria Announces 200 Percent Public Sector Wage, Pension Increase

FILE PHOTO: Bundles of Syrian currency notes are stacked up as an employee counts money at Syrian central bank, in Damascus,Syria, January 12, 2025. REUTERS/Firas Makdesi/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Bundles of Syrian currency notes are stacked up as an employee counts money at Syrian central bank, in Damascus,Syria, January 12, 2025. REUTERS/Firas Makdesi/File Photo

Syria announced on Sunday a 200 percent hike in public sector wages and pensions, as it seeks to address a grinding economic crisis after the recent easing of international sanctions.

Over a decade of civil war has taken a heavy toll on Syria's economy, with the United Nations reporting more than 90 percent of its people live in poverty.

In a decree published by state media, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a "200 percent increase to salaries and wages... for all civilian and military workers in public ministries, departments and institutions.”

Under the decree, the minimum wage for government employees was raised to 750,000 Syrian pounds per month, or around $75, up from around $25, AFP reported.

A separate decree granted the same 200 percent increase to retirement pensions included under current social insurance legislation.

Last month, the United States and European Union announced they would lift economic sanctions in a bid to help the country's recovery.

Also in May, Syria's Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh said Qatar would help it pay some public sector salaries.

The extendable arrangement was for $29 million a month for three months, and would cover "wages in the health, education and social affairs sectors and non-military" pensions, he had said.

Barnieh had said the grant would be managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and covered around a fifth of current wages and salaries.

Syria has some 1.25 million public sector workers, according to official figures.