Arab Parliament Designates Houthis as Terrorist Group

Workers fix the damage at Abha airport after a Houthi missile attack. — AFP
Workers fix the damage at Abha airport after a Houthi missile attack. — AFP
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Arab Parliament Designates Houthis as Terrorist Group

Workers fix the damage at Abha airport after a Houthi missile attack. — AFP
Workers fix the damage at Abha airport after a Houthi missile attack. — AFP

The Arab Parliament on Wednesday classified the Houthi militia as a terrorist group and called on the United Nations and the Arab League to take similar action for its deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian installations.

In its statement, the parliament decided to "ask the UN and the Security Council to take a firm and immediate position by classifying Houthi militia a terrorist organization."

It further condemned, in the strongest terms, the attack by Houthis targeting two oil pumping stations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on May 14 and Abha International Airport on June 12.

The parliament denounced the sabotage of four commercial vessels of a number of countries near the UAE’s territorial waters on May 12 and two vessels for transporting oil in the Sea of Oman on June 13, describing the acts as a flagrant violation of international laws and a threat of navy navigation safety and security.

The parliament also affirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the UAE in maintaining their security and stability and the measures they take to protect their security and their citizens. It also criticized the continued launching of Iranian-made ballistic missiles by Houthis on Saudi Arabia, which has seen more than 225 rockets launched toward the Kingdom with some even targeting Makkah.

The Arab Parliament called on the Arab League to raise the issue of Iranian threats and its interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries to the UN Security Council to halt these interventions – it also urged the Council, the UN General Assembly, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to shoulder their responsibilities toward Iran’s violation of Yemen’s sovereign rights.

In the same context, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Abul Gheit affirmed that the orgainization supports a peaceful solution in Yemen, as he received speaker of the Yemeni parliament on Wednesday.

Abul Gheit accentuated the necessity of fully implementing the Stockholm Agreement, as a first step to establish peace in Yemen, stressing the Arab League’s support for all efforts in the sake of reaching a solution based on the three references represented by the Gulf initiative, outcomes of the national dialogue and relevant UN resolutions; mainly resolution 2216.



Sudanese Army Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Darfur

Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
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Sudanese Army Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Darfur

Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)

More than 60 people have been killed and over 250 injured in airstrikes by the Sudanese military on the town of Kouma in North Darfur. This incident is being described by observers as one of the “largest massacres” of civilians since the conflict began.

Dozens more have died in separate attacks targeting the areas of Meilit, Wad Abu Saleh, and Um Duwain in Khartoum, with increasing calls for a ban on military flights by the Sudanese army.

Witnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat that the military targeted Kouma’s market on Friday morning, dropping explosive barrels that caused widespread destruction. Many victims were shopping at the bustling “Friday market,” and the death toll is expected to rise due to a lack of medical care for the injured.

The attacks are viewed as deliberate assaults on civilians, particularly since there were no Rapid Support Forces (RSF) present in the crowded market. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with bodies scattered throughout the area.

In Meilit, airstrikes also targeted a wedding celebration, killing about 13 people and injuring others. Activists and eyewitnesses deny the presence of the RSF in these locations, despite military claims that air operations are directed at them.

Political and human rights groups have condemned the escalating airstrikes and called for an immediate ban on military flights in Darfur.

The Civil Democratic Forces Coordination (Tagadum) stated that the Kouma market attack was a severe violation against civilians, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.

The group expressed concern about ongoing violations against civilians in Sudan and highlighted the need for international attention to protect innocent lives. They urged the warring parties to cease hostilities and engage in negotiations to end the conflict.