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Yemen: Legitimate Army Advances in Saada, Considers Taiz a Priority

Pro-Houthi fighters. AFP Mohammed Huwais
Pro-Houthi fighters. AFP Mohammed Huwais
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Yemen: Legitimate Army Advances in Saada, Considers Taiz a Priority

Pro-Houthi fighters. AFP Mohammed Huwais
Pro-Houthi fighters. AFP Mohammed Huwais

Yemen’s Armed Forces on Tuesday advanced in the province of Saada, tightening their grip on rebel militias’ main stronghold.

The Yemeni army, supported by Arab coalition jets, surprised militias by opening a new front in Saada and by succeeding for the first time in liberating strategic positions in several areas in Razeh district.

Military sources said that government forces were able to liberate a mountain range and positions located in Razeh after fierce confrontations with Houthi rebels.

The sources added that the Yemeni forces are now four kilometers away from the district’s center.

At the political level, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher met on Tuesday with the new governor of Taiz, Amin Mahmoud.

They discussed the security, administrative and humanitarian situation in Taiz, in addition to the operation aimed at completing the liberation of remaining areas in the governorate, official government sources said.

Bin Dagher condemned the immense violations committed by “Iranian rebel militias” against the people of Taiz.

The Prime Minister said the insurgents were using their war on Yemen to destroy the country’s infrastructure, kill its children and women and target public and private businesses.

“The complete liberation of Taiz remains an utmost priority,” he added.

Separately, Houthi militias on Tuesday anticipated the Yemeni parliament session to be held in the city of Aden next month, by announcing that the rebel’s “council” in Sana’a will resume holding its sessions on Saturday under the chairmanship of Yahya al-Rai.

The council meeting is part of the militias’ continuous attempts to impose pro-Houthi versions of Yemeni legitimate institutions.

Last Sunday, bin Daghr said that the Yemeni Parliament would hold a session next month in Aden to approve the budget and reorganize the legislative branch in the country.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.