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Arab World

Yemeni Government Stresses Need to Fight Houthi Evasiveness with Prisoner Swap Deal

At left, Abdelqader al-Murtada and Saelem Mohammed Noman Al-Mughalles, representatives of the Ansar Allah delegation and at right, Askar Zaeil and Hadi al-Hayi representing the delegation of the Government of Yemen sit at the negotiating table together with representatives from the office of the U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen and the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) when lists of prisoners are exchanged, a first step to implement the agreement to release all prisoners by the two parties, during the ongoing peace talks on Yemen held at Johannesberg Castle, in Rimbo, near Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 2018. TT News Agency/Claudio Bresciani via REUTERS
At left, Abdelqader al-Murtada and Saelem Mohammed Noman Al-Mughalles, representatives of the Ansar Allah delegation and at right, Askar Zaeil and Hadi al-Hayi representing the delegation of the Government of Yemen sit at the negotiating table together with representatives from the office of the U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen and the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) when lists of prisoners are exchanged, a first step to implement the agreement to release all prisoners by the two parties, during the ongoing peace talks on Yemen held at Johannesberg Castle, in Rimbo, near Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 2018. TT News Agency/Claudio Bresciani via REUTERS
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Yemeni Government Stresses Need to Fight Houthi Evasiveness with Prisoner Swap Deal

At left, Abdelqader al-Murtada and Saelem Mohammed Noman Al-Mughalles, representatives of the Ansar Allah delegation and at right, Askar Zaeil and Hadi al-Hayi representing the delegation of the Government of Yemen sit at the negotiating table together with representatives from the office of the U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen and the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) when lists of prisoners are exchanged, a first step to implement the agreement to release all prisoners by the two parties, during the ongoing peace talks on Yemen held at Johannesberg Castle, in Rimbo, near Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 2018. TT News Agency/Claudio Bresciani via REUTERS
At left, Abdelqader al-Murtada and Saelem Mohammed Noman Al-Mughalles, representatives of the Ansar Allah delegation and at right, Askar Zaeil and Hadi al-Hayi representing the delegation of the Government of Yemen sit at the negotiating table together with representatives from the office of the U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen and the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) when lists of prisoners are exchanged, a first step to implement the agreement to release all prisoners by the two parties, during the ongoing peace talks on Yemen held at Johannesberg Castle, in Rimbo, near Stockholm, Sweden, December 11, 2018. TT News Agency/Claudio Bresciani via REUTERS

Yemeni Foreign Ministry Khaled al-Yamani confirmed the government delegate, alongside Saudi and UAE representatives, has prepared and presented a strong letter criticizing violations committed by Iran-backed Houthi militiamen.

Houthis, despite signing to the UN-brokered Stockholm Agreement, have carried continued amassing fighters, building weapon capacities, digging trenches and looting humanitarian relief and exploiting it for the group’s apparently ongoing war effort.

“Coupists, given the group’s evasive behavior when it comes to the prisoner swap issue, seem to be practicing multi-faceted extortion against the international community,” al-Yamani told Asharq Al-Awsat on the eve of launching prisoner exchange talks in Amman, Jordan.

Yemen’s warring sides have started talks in the Jordanian capital about a deal to free thousands of prisoners as part of UN-led peace efforts.

The top diplomat said that the Yemeni government wishes for the international community and the humanitarian relief groups to weigh in and place pressure on Houthis so that they comply with commitments.

Houthis do not seem determined on fulfilling agreements, al-Yamani said while pointing out that the international community is well aware that the Iran-backed militia is unwilling to comply with peace efforts and doesn’t seriously want a solution for the conflict.

He went on to reaffirm the unquestionable support the internationally-recognized Yemeni government, headed by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, holds for UN-led peace efforts, saying that it stems from a conviction that diplomacy is the only solution to empower state institutions and to dismantle the detrimental agenda upheld by coupists.

According to al-Yamani, Houthis refusing to provide details on 232 detainees covered by the UN Security Council resolution 2216 is a grave violation that undermines confidence-building measures initiated by the Stockholm agreement.

Adressing questions on the arrival of a number of European ambassadors to Aden, al-Yamani said that this visit is meant to explore efforts undertaken by the legitimate Yemeni government.

The EU mission and a group of ambassadors will meet with the government in the interim capital of Aden.

Al-Yamani said that the visit restores clarity to confusion previously induced by understating positive efforts exerted by the Yemeni government.

The hard labors of the Yemeni government, according to al-Yamani, cannot be overlooked, especially as it first and foremost has the service of Yemenis at heart.

The Yemeni government works around the clock to strengthen the financial and administrative institutions to ensure that workers in all sectors of the country are paid, the diplomat said.

Backed by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition, al-Yamani said that the government is keen on restoring life in Yemen.

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Arab World

Hamas Armed Wing Says Disarmament Calls Are Unacceptable

25 March 2026, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli military strike on a target in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (dpa)
25 March 2026, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli military strike on a target in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (dpa)
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Hamas Armed Wing Says Disarmament Calls Are Unacceptable

25 March 2026, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli military strike on a target in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (dpa)
25 March 2026, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli military strike on a target in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (dpa)

Hamas' armed wing said on Sunday discussing the group's disarmament before Israel fully implements the first phase of the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire was an attempt to continue what it called a genocide against the Palestinian people. 

In a televised statement, Hamas' armed wing spokesperson Abu Ubaida said raising the issue of weapons “in a crude manner” would not be accepted. 

The issue of Hamas relinquishing its weapons is a major obstacle in talks to implement US ‌President Donald Trump’s proposed "Board ‌of Peace" plan for Gaza, ‌aimed ⁠at cementing a ceasefire ⁠that halted two years of full-scale fighting last October. 

Hamas has told mediators it will not discuss disarmament without guarantees that Israel will completely quit Gaza, three sources told Reuters last week. 

"What the enemy is trying to push through today against the Palestinian resistance, via our ⁠brotherly mediators, is extremely dangerous," he said. 

He said ‌the disarmament demands were "nothing ‌but an overt attempt to continue the genocide against our ‌people, something we will not accept under any circumstances." 

It ‌was not immediately clear whether the comments amounted to a formal rejection of the US-backed disarmament plan, and Hamas political officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

The Hamas-Israel ‌war in Gaza erupted after Hamas-led fighters carried out cross-border attacks on southern Israel, prompting ⁠a devastating ⁠Israeli offensive that displaced much of Gaza's population and left the enclave largely in ruins. 

Since the ceasefire took effect, Hamas and Israel have repeatedly accused each other of violating its terms. 

Abu Ubaida urged mediators to pressure Israel to fulfil its commitments under the first phase of the Trump plan before any discussion of the second phase can take place. 

"The enemy is the one who undermines the agreement," he said. 

There was no immediate comment from Israel on his remarks. 

Arab World

Zelenskyy in Syria to Discuss Security Cooperation with Sharaa

This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on April 5, 2026 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa shaking hands during their meeting in Damascus. (Handout / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on April 5, 2026 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa shaking hands during their meeting in Damascus. (Handout / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service / AFP)
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Zelenskyy in Syria to Discuss Security Cooperation with Sharaa

This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on April 5, 2026 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa shaking hands during their meeting in Damascus. (Handout / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on April 5, 2026 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa shaking hands during their meeting in Damascus. (Handout / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service / AFP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to work for enhanced security in talks on Sunday with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa, as Kyiv seeks to promote its military expertise across the region following the outbreak of the Iran war. 

Zelenskyy, continuing his tour of Middle East countries, also said Ukraine wants to contribute to food security in the region. 

In recent weeks, Zelenskyy has visited several countries across the Middle East, offering Ukrainian expertise in countering drone and missile attacks, developed during its four-year war with ‌Russia. 

"We agreed ‌to work together to provide more security ‌and opportunities ⁠for development for ⁠our societies," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. "There is a great interest in exchanging military and security experience." 

Zelenskyy told the Syrian leader that Ukraine, as a major grain producer, was a reliable supplier of food and said the two leaders "discussed joint opportunities to strengthen food security across the region." 

In Türkiye on Saturday, Zelenskyy said he had ⁠agreed on "new steps" in security cooperation with Turkish ‌President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and discussed opportunities ‌in joint gas infrastructure projects and gas field development. 

"Today in Damascus we ‌continue our active Ukrainian diplomacy aimed at real security and ‌economic cooperation," Zelenskyy said on X after his arrival. 

It was the Ukrainian leader's first trip to Syria since diplomatic relations were re-established at the end of last year following the fall of Syria's long-time strongman ‌Bashar al-Assad. 

Zelenskyy’s talks with Sharaa were linked to defense in light of the US-Israeli war in ⁠Iran, said ⁠one Syrian source, a government adviser. Syria is not known to have any air defenses capable of dealing with Iranian drones or missiles. 

Syria is home to two major Russian military bases, used by its navy and air force. Sharaa said on Tuesday at an event in Chatham House in London that work was under way to transform these into "centers to train the Syrian army." 

Arab World

Israel Renews Lebanon Strikes, Forces Syria Border Crossing Closed

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, on April 5, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, on April 5, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Renews Lebanon Strikes, Forces Syria Border Crossing Closed

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, on April 5, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, on April 5, 2026. (AFP)

Israeli strikes on south Beirut and its suburbs killed at least four people on Sunday, a day after Israel threatened to hit Lebanon's main border crossing with Syria, forcing it to close. 

The Israeli military also carried out deadly attacks on Lebanon's south, one of which killed seven people including a family of six. 

Israel has launched airstrikes across Lebanon as well as a ground invasion in the south since March 2, when armed group Hezbollah entered the war in the Middle East on the side of its backer Iran. 

Hezbollah on Sunday claimed to have fired a cruise missile at an Israeli warship off the coast, but the Israeli military told AFP it was "not aware" of such an incident. 

One of Israel's strikes in Beirut on Sunday killed at least four people and wounded 39 in the Jnah neighborhood, the Lebanese health ministry said. 

It landed about 100 meters away from the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the largest public medical facility in Lebanon, a medical source told AFP. 

Another attack struck a building elsewhere in the area that the Israeli military had warned it would target. 

After the first attack, 53-year-old Jnah resident Nancy Hassan thought she was safe at home. 

"Shortly after, the planes were flying overhead, and we heard a huge bang, then stones rained down on us," she told AFP. 

Hassan lost her daughter in an Israeli strike on the same area during the 2024 war between Hezbollah and Israel. 

"My daughter was killed, she was 23 years old. Today, her friends were killed. Every time, they bomb us in the neighborhood without warning," she added. 

Zakaria Tawbeh, deputy head of the Rafik Hariri hospital, said they received "four killed, three Sudanese and a 15-year-old girl, and 31 wounded". 

"Lots of glass was broken, and some of our patients had panic attacks." 

Israel also launched several strikes on the nearby southern suburbs, an area now largely evacuated but where Hezbollah holds sway. 

In a statement, the military warned it had "begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites". 

- Vital crossing - 

On Saturday, Israel had said it would target the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, the main gateway between the two countries. 

"Due to Hezbollah's use of the Masnaa crossing for military purposes and smuggling of combat equipment, the (Israeli army) intends to carry out strikes on the crossing in the near future," said the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee, urging people to leave the area. 

The border post was quickly evacuated on the Lebanese side. 

In Syria, borders and customs public relations director Mazen Aloush insisted the crossing was exclusively used by civilians, and said it would temporarily due to the threats. 

Masnaa is a vital trade route for both countries and a key gateway to the rest of the region for Lebanese people. 

Military expert Hassan Jouni told AFP that Israel's threat to strike the crossing "is not based on sound security considerations, but rather aims to pressure the Lebanese government... to disarm Hezbollah". 

At another border crossing further north known as Qaa, an AFP correspondent on Sunday saw a long line of cars and vans waiting to enter Syria as people sought an alternative route. 

- Family killed - 

Israeli attacks on Lebanon since the start of the war have killed more than 1,400 people, including 126 children, and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities. 

In the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Hatta, far from the border with Israel, an Israeli strike killed seven people including a four-year-old girl, the health ministry said Sunday. 

The Lebanese army mourned an off-duty soldier killed in the attack. 

The Israeli army had issued an evacuation warning for the town on Saturday evening. 

A source from Lebanon's civil defense told AFP that a family of six who had been displaced from a town further south were waiting for a relative to pick them up in a vehicle when they were killed. The relative also perished in the strike. 

An AFP photographer saw at least eight homes destroyed by attacks in Kfar Hatta. 

As Israeli troops push into border areas in southern Lebanon, destroying villages, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated his call for talks with Israel, saying he wanted to spare his country's south from destruction on the scale seen in the Palestinian territory of Gaza. 

"Why don't we negotiate... until we can at least save the homes that have not yet been destroyed?" he said in a televised address.