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Yemen Govt Urges Int’l Community to Change Approach in Dealing with Houthis

Pro-government fighters during battles with Houthi militias on the outskirts of Yemen’s northeastern governorate of Marib. (AP)
Pro-government fighters during battles with Houthi militias on the outskirts of Yemen’s northeastern governorate of Marib. (AP)
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Yemen Govt Urges Int’l Community to Change Approach in Dealing with Houthis

Pro-government fighters during battles with Houthi militias on the outskirts of Yemen’s northeastern governorate of Marib. (AP)
Pro-government fighters during battles with Houthi militias on the outskirts of Yemen’s northeastern governorate of Marib. (AP)

The Yemeni government is urging the international community to shift its way of dealing with the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ inflexibility in peace efforts and continued rejection of allowing maintenance of the derelict Safer oil tanker, which is threatening to cause an environment disaster in the Red Sea.

Moreover, the UN-backed Yemeni government demanded the international community also condemn the Houthis for their nonstop targeting of civilians in both the war-torn country and neighboring Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak reaffirmed his government’s “keenness to achieve peace and stability.”

Bin Mubarak voiced the government’s support for peace efforts during a mid-term videoconference meeting of the foreign ministers of state members of the Non-Aligned Movement, hosted by the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.

The minister’s statements come at a time pro-government forces, composed of the Yemeni army and the Popular Resistance, are fighting fierce battles against the Houthis in the strategic governorates of Marib and Al-Bayda.

“It (the Yemeni government) has made concessions after concessions for the sake of peace and sparing the bloodshed of Yemenis,” said bin Mubarak, adding that the Yemeni state has “dealt positively” with both UN and regional peace initiatives.

“The most recent initiative was presented by Saudi Arabia and the plan proposed by the UN, according to the references for comprehensive and sustainable peace in Yemen: the Gulf Initiative and its mechanism, the outcomes of the National Dialogue and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, starting with resolution 2216,” explained bin Mubarak.

However, the militias have “refused all these initiatives and chosen to pursue hostilities by firing ballistic missiles and using drone attacks against the over two million internally displaced civilian refugees in Marib.”

Apart from condemning the Houthis for their aggressions, the FM praised the Saudi-led Arab Coalition for backing pro-government forces in their fight against the militias and their efforts to restore security, peace and stability to Yemen.

He also thanked donor countries for sending aid to impoverished Yemenis experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis brought about by years of war waged by the Houthis.

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Arab World

Sudan’s Al-Burhan Backs Inclusive Dialogue but Pledges to Continue Fighting the RSF

Al-Burhan flanked by Yasser Al-Atta and Shams El Din Kabbashi during the Army Day celebration (Transitional Sovereignty Council Media)
Al-Burhan flanked by Yasser Al-Atta and Shams El Din Kabbashi during the Army Day celebration (Transitional Sovereignty Council Media)
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Sudan’s Al-Burhan Backs Inclusive Dialogue but Pledges to Continue Fighting the RSF

Al-Burhan flanked by Yasser Al-Atta and Shams El Din Kabbashi during the Army Day celebration (Transitional Sovereignty Council Media)
Al-Burhan flanked by Yasser Al-Atta and Shams El Din Kabbashi during the Army Day celebration (Transitional Sovereignty Council Media)

The Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and Commander of the Sudanese Army, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has approved an initiative to launch a dialogue that brings together all political and civil parties.

Despite his announcement, he pledged to continue fighting until the rebellion of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is defeated across the country.

Speaking on Friday on the 72nd anniversary of the Sudanese Armed Forces, al-Burhan said: "In light of this troubled political reality, a group of Sudanese citizens took the initiative to present their vision to work as an independent national mechanism to prepare for an inclusive Sudanese dialogue, with the goal of reaching a comprehensive national consensus that puts the country on the path to stability."

He added that he agreed to provide the necessary guarantees for holding the all-party talks, facilitate the participation of the different groups, and protect their safety.

Al-Burhan stressed that the state was willing to provide the necessary logistical support as well as legal, political, and security guarantees, without being the organizing entity of the dialogue.

He noted that providing these guarantees does not mean the state will dictate the participants of the dialogue, draft its agenda, control its outcomes, or provide it with political sponsorship.

Al-Burhan clarified that "the action taken by the state regarding any of the participants in the dialogue is not considered a pardon, but rather means suspending the criminal proceedings previously taken by the state against them."

He stated that these measures represent a "temporary immunity" to create appropriate conditions that ensure the participation of the parties.

The Sudanese army commander also pledged legal protection for the opinions and positions expressed by participants, saying statements made during dialogue sessions would not be used as grounds for legal prosecution.

A-Burhan said the army was ready to engage with any serious peace initiative but would not accept what he called an “incomplete peace” that returned the RSF and its supporters to power.

He stated that the army would continue the “completion of the cleansing of the country from the terrorist militia.”

The path to peace must begin with RSF forces withdrawing from cities and gathering in designated areas, followed by the return of displaced people and refugees to their homes, he added.

The Democratic Bloc welcomed al-Burhan’s announcement to hold the all-party talks.

Its spokesperson, Mohamed Zakaria, said Saturday that al-Burhan’s emphasis on the importance of inter-Sudanese dialogue and the need to create a conducive environment for its launch represents a significant step towards addressing the crisis through a national political process.

He called on all sides to engage positively with any serious effort to launch a comprehensive national dialogue, provided that the process is managed entirely by Sudanese parties and that the regional and international role is limited to facilitation and support without interfering in determining participants or imposing an agenda or outcomes.

Arab World

Egypt, China Consolidate Cooperation by Holding Air Combat Maneuvers

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and China’s President Xi Jinping held summit talks in the Chinese capital, Beijing, in May 2024. Photo: Egyptian Presidency
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and China’s President Xi Jinping held summit talks in the Chinese capital, Beijing, in May 2024. Photo: Egyptian Presidency
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Egypt, China Consolidate Cooperation by Holding Air Combat Maneuvers

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and China’s President Xi Jinping held summit talks in the Chinese capital, Beijing, in May 2024. Photo: Egyptian Presidency
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and China’s President Xi Jinping held summit talks in the Chinese capital, Beijing, in May 2024. Photo: Egyptian Presidency

Egypt and China have consolidated their military cooperation by announcing new air combat drills that are set to start this month.

"The Chinese and Egyptian air forces will hold Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint training in Egypt from mid-August to early September," said Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), at a press briefing on Friday.

"The training will focus on such subjects as air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, and will include force employment drills," said the spokesperson.

"As the second iteration of its kind, the joint training will further enhance mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, and contribute to regional peace and stability," stressed the spokesperson.

The joint air force exercise between China and Egypt "Eagles of Civilization 2025" was held in April last year at an Egyptian air base. It marked the first-ever military air drill between the two nations and the first time the Chinese PLA Air Force systematically deployed multiple troop types to the African continent.

In May 2024, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing to mark the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The leaders declared 2024 the "Egypt-China Partnership Year,” signing bilateral agreements on the Belt and Road Initiative, technology, and industrial localization.

Arab World

Yemen's Mokha Port Halts Operations after Houthi Attacks

Flames and smoke rise from the port of Mokha during a strike in Yemen, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)
Flames and smoke rise from the port of Mokha during a strike in Yemen, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)
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Yemen's Mokha Port Halts Operations after Houthi Attacks

Flames and smoke rise from the port of Mokha during a strike in Yemen, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)
Flames and smoke rise from the port of Mokha during a strike in Yemen, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)

Yemen's Mokha port has suspended commercial and maritime operations after being hit by more than 25 missiles in Houthi attacks over recent days, the port's director said on Saturday.

The attacks killed seven people and caused an estimated $16 million in losses, the director told a news conference.

The latest attacks come amid an ongoing Houthi escalation that has lasted for about two weeks, targeting military positions and vital facilities in government-controlled provinces, alongside an intensification of operations on several fronts.

Brig. Gen. Sadiq Duwaid, spokesman for the National Resistance Forces, said the group had launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones in recent days at the city of Mokha, its port, and surrounding facilities.

Duwaid believes the group turned to targeting civilian infrastructure after suffering losses on the battlefronts, while government forces say the latest attacks are aimed at weakening economic activity and depriving residents of essential services and sources of income.

The repeated strikes made it difficult for ambulance and field teams to reach the port in the early hours, according to the National Resistance Forces' military media outlet, which said the intensity of the bombardment hindered firefighting operations and efforts to assess the damage and casualties.