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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
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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.

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Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
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Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)

A senior government official said Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has warned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the “risks to Iraq” from the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.

The official added that Iran is using “deception” when asked to distance its allied militias from the war.

Political and government figures are increasingly worried that Iraq could be hit, after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a drone strike on the Golan Heights early Friday.

Speaking anonymously to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official said al-Sudani is taking steps to keep Iraq out of the conflict.

These efforts include ramping up “political mediation” to persuade militias not to involve Iraq. The prime minister “informed Coordination Framework leaders of the risks” and urged them to “act quickly.”

The official also warned that an attack is still possible, saying intelligence shows the Iraqi militias launched the strike from outside Iraq, using weapons that came from Iraqi territory.

Al-Sudani’s Mediation Efforts

The Iraqi premier has chosen mediators, approved by Iran, to negotiate with militias about the conflict and conditions for de-escalation. These three individuals have previously acted as mediators in past crises.

Last week, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that al-Sudani asked three key Shiite figures to intervene and prevent militias from getting involved in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, after reports surfaced that Israel had identified 35 Iraqi targets.

Sources confirmed that Ammar al-Hakim is among the mediators, along with two other influential Shiite leaders whose names haven’t been disclosed.

However, two Iraqi militias—likely the al-Nujaba Movement led by Akram al-Kaabi and Kataib Hezbollah led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi—have refused to cooperate and continue launching rocket attacks on Israel.

The Iraqi official admitted that some militias are “stubborn,” but stressed that al-Sudani knows Iraq is “at the center of the storm.”

He reportedly told leaders of the Coordination Framework, “Iraq cannot avoid a military strike if it happens, so we must stay out of the war to protect the country.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a Friday sermon, stated that “Iran’s allies in the region won’t back down,” increasing concerns that Iraqi militias tied to Iran will continue attacking Israel.

Iraqi sources also reported that the Coordination Framework has reviewed an “intelligence report” on dozens of Iraqi targets that Israel might strike or assassinate.

Government Efforts to Prevent Escalation

Al-Sudani has blocked the flow of Iraqi funds into conflict zones, unlike previous leaders, according to the official.

He has worked closely with the US and its Treasury Department to strictly monitor financial movements, often insisting that Iran uses official channels to claim its dues from Iraq.

The official also said global auditing firms are now helping Iraq’s central bank oversee financial transactions, shutting down all previous routes for illicit money flows.

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, the US told Iraq it pressured Israel not to strike Iraq, as long as Iraq stays out of the conflict, the official added.

The US doesn’t oppose Iraq’s stance of condemning Israel, supporting Lebanon and Palestine, and sending aid.

But it “won’t accept any financial or military support to militias.”

Regarding Iran’s role, the official said Tehran claims militias act independently, dodging responsibility for reining them in.