Presidential Leadership Council: Houthis Don't Care About Yemenis' Sufferings

The meeting of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (Saba)
The meeting of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (Saba)
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Presidential Leadership Council: Houthis Don't Care About Yemenis' Sufferings

The meeting of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (Saba)
The meeting of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (Saba)

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council held meetings in Aden to launch a new phase where services, the economy, and security are a priority.

The meetings are held in the presence of the cabinet and initiated in parallel with the political track led by the Council, the UN, and the international community aiming to end the Houthi coup.

The Yemeni state, with its various legislative and executive institutions, returned to the country on April 20, 2022, which boosted the national and foreign policies and set the legitimacy on a more robust path.

The state-owned Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reported that Rashad al-Alimi chaired Friday’s meeting to discuss the national developments and challenges.

The agency quoted Alimi confirming that the current stage requires joint official and popular efforts to build the state and face all challenges, namely the economic issues, which he believes will "reflect on the citizen's lives."

Alimi stressed the necessity of achieving the priorities announced before the parliament, especially regarding the living and economic situation.

He asserted that the temporary capital of Aden is one of the top priorities and requires more vital efforts to achieve development and stability.

The meeting discussed military and security challenges, asserting the Presidential Council's commitment to the humanitarian ceasefire despite the Houthis' continuous violations, which the Council said "asserts the militias' unwillingness to achieve peace."

The Council renewed its call for peace as the only option to end the bloodshed, stating that the Houthis "never care about the suffering of our Yemeni people."

Meanwhile, the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission of the Presidential Leadership Council held on Saturday its first meeting in Aden, headed by Mohammad al-Ghaithi.

According to official sources, the meeting was attended by the Vice-President of the Commission, Abdul-Malik al-Mekhlafi, Jamila Ali Raja, and Judge Akram al-Amri.

The meeting discussed the priorities of the next phase, in line with the objectives to support the Presidential Leadership Council and create the appropriate conditions for boosting the partnership between various forces and political components.



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.