Yemen Complains to UN, Lebanon over Hezbollah’s Hostile Stances, Houthi Support

Houthi militias in Sanaa, Yemen. (Reuters)
Houthi militias in Sanaa, Yemen. (Reuters)
TT
20

Yemen Complains to UN, Lebanon over Hezbollah’s Hostile Stances, Houthi Support

Houthi militias in Sanaa, Yemen. (Reuters)
Houthi militias in Sanaa, Yemen. (Reuters)

The Yemeni government filed on Wednesday a complaint to the Lebanese government protesting the “Hezbollah” party’s support for the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

“Hezbollah”, which is also backed by Iran, has been accused by the Saudi-led Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen of providing arms to the Houthis.

The Yemeni government condemned “Hezbollah” chief Hassan Nasrallah for recently calling on the Lebanese people to support the Houthis against the legitimate government of President Abdrabbou Mansour Hadi.

The message was sent by Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani to his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil.

Yamani lamented that “Hezbollah” had harmed Lebanon’s strong ties with Yemen through its training, plotting, incitement and support of the Houthi militia that had staged a coup against the legitimate Yemeni authorities in 2014 in pursuit of an Iranian expansionist agenda.

“Hezbollah’s” support for the Houthis was evident during a speech by Nasrallah on June 29 in which he expressed his party’s readiness and desire to fight in Yemen alongside the Houthis against the internationally-recognized legitimate government, continued the minister.

Yamani condemned this “unjustified hostile” stance as blatant violation in Yemen’s internal affairs that will only lead to “major damage to its higher interest and national security, fan the flames of war and prolong its crisis.”

He stressed that the Yemeni government reserves its right to raise this issue at the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and United Nations Security Council, all of which call for respecting the sovereignty of states.

Yamani had informed Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that the complaint would be referred to the Security Council.

Yemen’s Ambassador to the United States and UN Dr. Ahmed Awadh bin Mubarak later confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the complaint was indeed sent to the Council.

Meanwhile, an official from the Lebanese foreign ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat that it had not yet received the formal complaint.

It added that Bassil was abroad and could not comment on the development, “which we only heard about from the media.”

“We will make a stance when we receive it through official channels,” he added.



Israeli Strikes Kill 12 in Lebanon, including 5 Hezbollah Fighters

Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
TT
20

Israeli Strikes Kill 12 in Lebanon, including 5 Hezbollah Fighters

Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.

Heavy Israeli airstrikes killed 12 people, including five Hezbollah fighters, in eastern Lebanon on Tuesday, a security source in Lebanon said, in what Israel said was a warning to the Iran-backed group against trying to re-establish itself.

The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted training camps used by elite Hezbollah fighters and warehouses it used to store weapons in the Bekaa Valley region of eastern Lebanon.

The airstrikes were the deadliest on the area since a US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel last November. Bachir Khodr, governor of the Bekaa region, said seven of the dead were Syrian nationals.

Israel dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in last year's conflict, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah along with other commanders and destroying much of its arsenal.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday's strikes sent a "clear message" to Hezbollah, accusing it of planning to rebuild the capability to raid Israel through the elite Radwan force, Reuters reported.

Israel "will respond with maximum force to any attempt at rebuilding", he said. He added that strikes were also a message to the Lebanese government, saying it was responsible for upholding the ceasefire agreement.

There was no immediate public response from Hezbollah or from the Lebanese government to the latest Israeli strikes.

The United States has submitted a proposal to the Lebanese government aimed at securing Hezbollah's disarmament within four months in exchange for Israel halting airstrikes and withdrawing troops from positions they still hold in south Lebanon.

Under the terms of the ceasefire brokered by the US and France, Lebanon's armed forces were to confiscate "all unauthorized arms", beginning in the area south of the Litani River - the zone closest to Israel.