Yemen Consultations Begin Drafting Roadmap to Bolster State Institutions

GCC Ambassador to Yemen Sarhan Al-Minaikher speaks at a press conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GCC Ambassador to Yemen Sarhan Al-Minaikher speaks at a press conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Yemen Consultations Begin Drafting Roadmap to Bolster State Institutions

GCC Ambassador to Yemen Sarhan Al-Minaikher speaks at a press conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GCC Ambassador to Yemen Sarhan Al-Minaikher speaks at a press conference on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

After six days of discussions in Riyadh, gatherers at the intra-Yemeni consultations began drafting solutions and a roadmap that would address the challenges confronting their country's security and stability.

The Gulf Cooperation Council is sponsoring the talks that kicked off last week.

GCC Ambassador to Yemen Sarhan Al-Minaikher said consensus has prevailed throughout the talks.

Speaking at a press conference at the conclusion of Tuesday's talks, he stressed that "everyone, without exception, is in agreement on the need to lead their country to stability and prosperity."

"We are celebrating the success of the talks," he declared.

"Everyone is optimistic. The Yemeni people are pinning their hopes on their representatives at these consultations," he added. "They have started to draft a roadmap that would lead Yemen to safety and prosperity."

Yemen will find the needed support from its brothers at the GCC, stressed the ambassador.

In recent days, the gatherers tackled the challenges and obstacles facing their country. On Monday they met with the government. Everyone, without exception, is keen on dedicating themselves in service of the citizen inside and outside Yemen, continued Al-Minaikher.

They are determined to bolster state institutions and enable them to serve the people, he stressed.

He reiterated that the solution to Yemen's problems lies in the hands of Yemenis themselves. The GCC will not oppose any agreement they reach.

He said the gatherers are holding open and expanded meetings with the government to address all pressing issues.

They started to draft solutions on Tuesday. The consultations are set to conclude on Thursday.

Al-Minaikher also reiterated that the consultations are not a substitute to UN negotiations or the Gulf initiative. Rather, the consultations are a path that boosts the chances of peace and the UN negotiations.

Lutfi Numan, a participant at the talks, spoke of a "more realistic approach" being adopted in addressing the performance of the legitimate government, underscoring the need to reform it.

This is an issue that enjoyed consensus at the consultations, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The gatherers discussed the relationship between the various components of the legitimate authority, including between the legitimacy and member states of the Saudi-led Arab coalition. They also tackled the fight against the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

On whether he believes the consultations will be a success, he remarked that whenever Yemenis come together, they appear united, but when they depart, "they return to battle."

Another participant, Abdulkarim Saeed, attended the discussions on security and the fight against terrorism.

He revealed that security challenges in all provinces were on the table. The gatherers met with the prime minister and members of government to exchange views and ideas.

Tuesday's discussions covered security solutions and recommendations that will be adopted by the consultations, he added. The government will be responsible for applying them, as well as uniting national ranks.

Discussions also covered the possibility of merging various military formations with the several security agencies active in liberated regions, he added.



Iran Strengthens its Militias in Syria

 A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)
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Iran Strengthens its Militias in Syria

 A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)

Iran has increased its diplomatic and military efforts in Syria in response to Israeli escalation and threats to cut off the Tehran-Damascus corridor.

This includes strengthening Iranian-backed militias, which have stepped up attacks on US-led coalition bases and the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

These groups are also fighting ISIS in the Syrian desert.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that Iran-backed groups launched 89 attacks on US bases in Syria in 2024, using drones and rockets from both Syria and Iraq.

In turn, US forces have upgraded their base defenses, including air defense systems, to intercept drones before they reach their targets.

At the same time, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is expanding its training camps for militias, especially the Iraqi Harakat al-Nujaba, in Syria’s southeastern Homs desert.

Reinforcements from the Zainabiyoun and Fatemiyoun brigades, totaling about 225 fighters, recently arrived in the eastern Deir Ezzor province through the al-Hari border crossing. The fighters are stationed in Al-Boukamal and Mayadeen under IRGC command.

Local sources said Iran is working to strengthen its military presence in the region.

On Monday evening, ISIS launched an attack on Iranian-backed militias in the desert near Tadmur, east of Homs.

Syria's Al-Watan newspaper reported that on Monday, government forces and allied troops fought fierce battles with ISIS cells in the eastern Homs desert.

A military source said the clashes killed several ISIS fighters and destroyed their vehicles, which were armed with heavy machine guns.

The militants had attempted to cross from areas controlled by US forces in the 55-kilometer zone to target military positions near the town of al-Taybah in eastern Homs.