Grundberg in Aden to Consolidate Yemen Truce

Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak meets with UN envoy Hans Grundberg in Riyadh on Monday. (Saba)
Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak meets with UN envoy Hans Grundberg in Riyadh on Monday. (Saba)
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Grundberg in Aden to Consolidate Yemen Truce

Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak meets with UN envoy Hans Grundberg in Riyadh on Monday. (Saba)
Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak meets with UN envoy Hans Grundberg in Riyadh on Monday. (Saba)

United Nations envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg arrived in Aden on Monday as part of his efforts to consolidate the two-month truce that was declared at the beginning of the month.

Hopes are pinned on the truce becoming a permanent ceasefire to the pave the way for peace consultations that would end the Iran-backed Houthi militias' coup.

Grundberg is scheduled to meet with government officials and members of the new Presidential Leadership Council.

On Monday, he met with head of the council, Rashad al-Alimi, and Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak in Riyadh where the truce was declared during the intra-Yemeni consultations.

Talks with Alimi focused on the implementation of the truce agreement, tweeted the envoy's office.

"They agreed on the importance of building on the truce towards reaching negotiated political solution to the conflict."

The envoy had flown in to Riyadh from Sanaa where he met with Houthi officials.

Talks with bin Mubarak focused on the latest developments in Yemen and ways to maintain the truce, especially in regards to opening roads to Houthi-besieged Taiz, revealed official sources.

The FM said lifting the siege was among the truce's top priorities.

He spoke of the dangers of Houthi violations of the truce and the government's keenness on consolidating it to pave the way for hope and peace.

He urged the need to prevent the Houthis from exploiting the truce to amass forces and reorganize their ranks.

The terms of the truce include facilitating the entry of 18 fuel ships into the ports of Hodeidah and allowing two commercial flights a week to and from Sanaa airport. The terms also include convening a meeting between the parties to agree on opening roads in Taiz and elsewhere to improve civilians’ freedom of movement inside Yemen.

Observers have expressed their concern that the Houthis would renege on the truce, especially amid daily reports of their violations.

Military media on Monday confirmed that the militias have been violating the truce on all battlefronts. On Saturday alone, the military confirmed 87 Houthi violations in fronts in the Taiz, Hodeidah, Marib, Hajjah and al-Jawf provinces.

Violations included attempted Houthi infiltrations in Marib that were thwarted by the armed forces and sniper attacks against the national army in Hajjah. One soldier was wounded in a sniper attack.



Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
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Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)

Baghdad has been preoccupied this week with serious possibilities that Israel may expand its war on Gaza and Lebanon by striking several targets in Iraq in retaliation to attacks by Iran-backed armed factions.

Concern has been high that Israel may attack government buildings, oil fields and strategic locations, not just the positions of the armed factions that have previously launched attacks against Israel, said sources close to the pro-Iran ruling Coordination Framework.

Media sources have spoken of government speculation that Iraq could come under “300 Israeli attacks”.

The fears in Iraq have been compounded by an Israeli complaint to the United Nations Security Council against seven armed factions and holding Baghdad responsible for the attacks they have carried out against it.

This prompted the government, through the foreign ministry, to send an official letter to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation in response to the Israeli threats.

The ministry said on Saturday that Iraq is “the cornerstone of stability in the region and world and it is one of the countries that are most committed to the UN Charter.”

“The Zionist entity’s letter to the Security Council is part of a systematic policy aimed at creating claims and excuses in an attempt to expand the conflict in the region.”

It said Iraq has turned to the Security Council out of Iraq’s keenness on the international body carrying out its duty in maintaining international peace and security and the need to rein in the “Zionist aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.”

Moreover, it stressed that Iraq has been keen on exercising restraint when it comes to the use of its airspace to attack a neighboring country.

Israel has used Iraqi airspace to launch attacks against Iran in October.

Iraq underscored the importance of the international community stepping in to “stop this hostile behavior that is a flagrant violation of international law.”

It called for international efforts to stop the Israeli escalation in the region and ensure that international laws and treaties are respected to consolidate security and stability.

Meanwhile, a source close to the Coordination Framework said the main Shiite parties are taking the Israeli threats “very seriously”, urging Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government to take “all the necessary measures to avert a potential Israeli strike.”

All leaders of armed factions, as well as Shiite leaders, have taken up alternative locations and are moving under great secrecy, confirming that they have changed the majority of their military positions, said the source.

It also dismissed claims that Israeli jets have overflown Iraq, saying nothing has been confirmed, but not ruling out the possibility, especially since US forces have control over Iraqi skies and Iraq is helpless against stopping these violations.

Iraq had submitted a formal complaint to the UN and Security Council over Israel’s use and violation of its airspace to attack Iran.

Analyst and former diplomat Ghazi Faisal said the pro-Iran armed factions have been gathering their forces in the Sinjar province, which is strategic for Iran’s arms deliveries and logistic support to Syria where attacks can be carried out against American forces and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Sinjar is one of the most important strategic bases for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, he added.

Furthermore, he noted that the armed factions insist on continuing the war against Israel, rejecting government calls for calm and neutrality.

The government’s statements are aimed at delivering a message that it “is not directly responsible for the strategy of these factions,” which follow Iran’s policies.

Iraq has repeatedly said that it refuses for its territory to be used to attack another country, but some observers believe that it may allow Iran to do so should Israel strike.