Legitimate Yemen Govt. Calls for Wide Alliance to Overcome Differences

Yemen President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. (Reuters)
Yemen President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. (Reuters)
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Legitimate Yemen Govt. Calls for Wide Alliance to Overcome Differences

Yemen President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. (Reuters)
Yemen President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. (Reuters)

The legitimate Yemeni government called on Saturday for opening a new chapter of ties with all political factions,

It also called for forming a wide alliance that overcomes the differences of the past.

The declaration was made after President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi chaired an extraordinary meeting for his aides to discuss the latest developments in the country, in particular the unrest in the capital Sana’a.

The government voiced its support for each side that confronts the Houthi militia and works on ridding Yemen from it.

“All who abandon the alliance with the militia will come under the umbrella of legitimacy,” it stressed in a statement.

It also expressed its concern over the developments in Sana’a in wake of the clashes between the Houthis and supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who on Saturday called for opening a new chapter of ties in order to end Yemen’s crisis.

The government condemned the criminal Houthi acts in Sana’a, such as the violation of state institutions, places of worship and private properties, adding that not even its allies are safe from its actions.

The legitimate government renewed its support to the Saudi-led Arab coalition aimed at restoring legitimacy in Yemen, saying that it will up its efforts in order to eliminate the Houthi “gang” and liberate the entire country.

It hoped that the wide alliance that it called for would overcome the disputes of the past and pave the way for a new phase in Yemen and unite all sides against the Houthi militia, which is an extension of the Iranian agenda in Yemen.

Yemenis from all political factions, starting with Saleh’s National People’s Congress, to rise up against the Houthis in Sana’a and all provinces “to end this Iranian-backed nightmare.”



CENTCOM Nominee: US Needs Troops in Syria to Stop ISIS Comeback

US Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper 
US Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper 
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CENTCOM Nominee: US Needs Troops in Syria to Stop ISIS Comeback

US Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper 
US Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper 

ISIS remains a threat in Syria and a US military presence is still needed there to deal with it, US Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in his confirmation hearing to become the next head of US Central Command.

The Pentagon has already decided to significantly reduce the number of troops in the country from 2,000 to fewer than 1,000.

But Cooper told the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 24 there is a continued need for at least some presence. And he argued that the complex situation in Syria needs to be weighed before making additional troop cuts.

“Presence is indispensable in the execution of the counter-ISIS mission today,” said Cooper, who currently serves as the deputy commander of CENTCOM, which oversees US forces in the Middle East.

“We have led it. We lead it today, and I anticipate we’ll lead it into the future. Every decision made on force posture is going to be conditions-based as I look to the future,” he added.

When asked by Senator Joni Ernst about the church bombing in Syria few days ago, Cooper said, “We are focused on this problem set every single day. ISIS remains a threat, and as we look to the future, and if confirmed, I will remain nose down on this threat. It is an absolute priority.”

Cooper said the US was right to back Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa and that he was a vital partner in the campaign against ISIS.

“ISIS thrives in chaos,” Cooper said. “If the government of Syria, now seven months into their existence, can help suppress that ISIS threat, along with the US forces in the region, that stability helps create our own security.”

He added, “I think, given the dynamic nature of what’s happening today, that assessment [of required US troops in Syria] in the future could look different than it does today, perhaps.”

Cooper said the US played—and continues to play—a central role in the anti-ISIS campaign.

“The United States has led this mission from the outset. We still lead it today, and I expect that leadership to continue as we move forward, guided by operational realities,” he affirmed.