Yemen Calls for Ending Houthi Obstacles to Peace Initiatives

The Yemeni Foreign Minister during his meeting with State Secretary to Sweden Prime Minister Karin Wallensteen in Stockholm Thursday (Saba)
The Yemeni Foreign Minister during his meeting with State Secretary to Sweden Prime Minister Karin Wallensteen in Stockholm Thursday (Saba)
TT

Yemen Calls for Ending Houthi Obstacles to Peace Initiatives

The Yemeni Foreign Minister during his meeting with State Secretary to Sweden Prime Minister Karin Wallensteen in Stockholm Thursday (Saba)
The Yemeni Foreign Minister during his meeting with State Secretary to Sweden Prime Minister Karin Wallensteen in Stockholm Thursday (Saba)

The Yemeni government has urged the international community to pressure the Iran-backed Houthi militias to stop their military escalation.

It called on the international community to push the Houthis to accept the peace initiatives.

Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Mubarak made these statements during a meeting with State Secretary to Sweden’s Prime Minister Karin Wallensteen in Stockholm Thursday.

The visit comes as part of his European tour that took him to Norway and the Netherlands.

The Yemeni FM and the Swedish minister discussed Yemen’s peace process, in addition to the role that international key players are expected to play in pushing it forward.

Bin Mubarak also met with Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation Per Olof Olsson Fridh.

They discussed means of cooperation on development, and further addressed the political and humanitarian situation in Yemen.

During his visit to the Netherlands, Bin Mubarak reviewed the Iranian subversive role in Yemen.

He indicated that the Houthi partnership with the Iranian agenda aimed at destabilizing the security and stability of Yemen and the Arab region as well as complicating the conflict.

He stressed the government’s keenness to provide full support to UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg.

He expressed the government's willingness to work with Grundberg to reach a comprehensive ceasefire that would help address all other humanitarian, political, and economic issues.

The Foreign Minister reviewed the humanitarian situation in Yemen and underlined the importance of addressing the gap in financing the humanitarian response plan.

He shed light on the continuation of the Houthi aggression on Marib governorate, its humanitarian repercussions, the militia’s targeting of residential areas and IDP camps, and the recruitment of children as well as illegal migrants.

Bin Mubarak addressed maritime and environmental security in the Red Sea.

He stressed putting an end to the threats posed by the Houthis to the security of the Red Sea through the indiscriminate deployment of sea mines and targeting ships with explosive boats.

He also slammed the Houthis for procrastinating in responding to international calls to defuse a major environmental and humanitarian disaster by not allowing the inspection of the Safer oil tanker.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that his tour seeks to mobilize European support for the legitimacy in Yemen.

This visit is a continuation of trips to the GCC countries, Russia and other countries, he added.



Israeli Strike Hits Civilian Sites Near Damascus, Syrian Ministry Says

People gather near a damaged building after, according to Syrian state media reports, several Israeli missiles hit a residential building in the Kafr Sousa district, Damascus, Syria February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
People gather near a damaged building after, according to Syrian state media reports, several Israeli missiles hit a residential building in the Kafr Sousa district, Damascus, Syria February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Strike Hits Civilian Sites Near Damascus, Syrian Ministry Says

People gather near a damaged building after, according to Syrian state media reports, several Israeli missiles hit a residential building in the Kafr Sousa district, Damascus, Syria February 21, 2024. (Reuters)
People gather near a damaged building after, according to Syrian state media reports, several Israeli missiles hit a residential building in the Kafr Sousa district, Damascus, Syria February 21, 2024. (Reuters)

An Israeli strike from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights targeted civilian sites south of the Syrian capital Damascus, causing some damage, Syria's defense ministry said on Monday.

Earlier, Syrian state media SANA said that initial reports indicated the strike hit the Sayeda Zeinab area. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Israeli military did not comment on the strike.

Sayeda Zeinab, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and site of a major Shiite shrine, has been targeted in previous strikes.

Syrian and Western intelligence sources say Israeli attacks in Syria have killed numerous Hezbollah and pro-Iranian militia fighters based around the eastern outskirts of Damascus and to the south of the city.

The sources say the neighborhood remains a target due to the presence of high-ranking militia leaders.

Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria for years. It has ramped up strikes since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by armed group Hamas on Israel and particularly since the recent escalation of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.