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Yemeni Army Chief of Staff to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Ready to Decide Battles, Achieve Victory

Bin Aziz was army commanders in Marib. (Saba)
Bin Aziz was army commanders in Marib. (Saba)
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Yemeni Army Chief of Staff to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Ready to Decide Battles, Achieve Victory

Bin Aziz was army commanders in Marib. (Saba)
Bin Aziz was army commanders in Marib. (Saba)

Yemen Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Sagheer bin Aziz confirmed that the forces of the legitimate government are fully prepared to decide the battle and achieve victory.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he stressed that the formation of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council presents a practical transformation and an advanced step towards ending the conflict, stopping the war and restoring state institutions.

“I imagine that the Council, led by Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi and his brother members of the Council, possesses many traits that will allow it to achieve many of the aspirations of the Yemeni people,” bin Aziz said.

He stated that the Council includes political figures with great leadership experience who represent all the active political components in Yemen.

Moreover, he warned the Iran-backed Houthi militias that they had a choice to make, either give up arms and engage in political dialogue or lose to the battle with the army.

“The militias must determine their options, either to lay down their arms and join the dialogue as a political component to come up with solutions that guarantee the return of state institutions, or leave the issue to the army to decide the battle,” he said.

Ever since the UN-sponsored truce went into effect in early April, the Houthis have openly exploited the Saudi-led Arab coalition’s halt of aerial operations by doubling their building of fortifications, digging of trenches and opening secondary roads on various fronts, especially in the oil-rich Marib governorate.

“The Houthis are subject to follow-up and monitoring by international institutions and all humanitarian organizations interested in peace in the world, and I believe that they know the true extent of the commitment of the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militia to this truce,” bin Aziz remarked.

In April alone, the Houthis committed 2,700 violations against army positions.

The militias also deployed heavy combat units that include tanks and armored vehicles to front lines. They repositioned missile and drone launchers as well.

“Asharq al-Awsat newspaper publishes dozens of news articles daily about the extent of the militias' infiltrations in the Marib, Al-Jawf, Saada, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Taiz and Dhale fronts,” noted bin Aziz.

He blamed the international community, which, according to him, continues to overlook the unprecedented terrorist acts and crimes committed by the militias.

He spoke against the international community’s acceptance of the blatant Iranian interference in Yemen and its attempts to implement an occupational agenda in the war-torn nation.

“The danger lies in the international community condoning the unprecedented terrorist acts and crimes committed by these militias, and what is more dangerous is its acceptance of the blatant Iranian interference in Yemen,” he said.

He warned that the truce from the militias’ perspective is nothing more than an opportunity to reorganize ranks, mobilize all human, material and armament capabilities, and assume offensive positions in preparation for a wide and surprising attack.

He predicted that the Houthis will focus their combat effort on major fronts, especially Marib.

However, bin Aziz underscored the readiness of the Yemeni army, popular resistance forces and tribesmen in repelling any Houthi aggression with the support of the Arab coalition.

“Our national army and with it the heroes in the popular resistance and tribesmen and all who support the legitimate government believe in the justice of defending the dignity and freedom of Yemen and Yemenis,” he asserted.

“Their historically proven courage, and their great combat experience gained in the eight years of battles, make them more able to defeat Houthi militias,” vowed bin Aziz.

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UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
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UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has issued a stark warning about the continued flow of weapons into the war-torn country, saying it only “feeds military delusions” and delays peace.

In his first in-depth interview since assuming the role earlier this year, Lamamra told Asharq Al-Awsat that peace in Sudan cannot be imposed from outside but must be forged by Sudanese themselves through collective will and unity.

“Peace is not imposed, it is made,” he said. “And if Sudanese do not make it, it will not come to them from the outside.”

Lamamra, an Algerian diplomat and former foreign minister with decades of experience in African mediation, emphasized that no military solution is possible in Sudan’s conflict. Instead, he called for an urgent political settlement, warning that “each day of delay means more fragmentation, more bloodshed.”

Following meetings in Port Sudan with Sovereign Council leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and ongoing communications with the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Lamamra acknowledged that the path to peace remains long and difficult.

He condemned what he described as a dangerous “logic of dominance” driving the conflict—a belief that complete military victory is possible, regardless of the cost to Sudan’s social fabric. “Some actors still think peace can wait until one side wins,” he said. “But that’s a delusion. There is no military solution.”

Instead, he stressed: “Sudan needs a political solution based on compromise, not revenge.”

Since taking office, Lamamra has focused on coordinating rather than expanding international mediation efforts. He voiced concern about the “overcrowding of mediators,” which he said has allowed Sudanese factions to exploit international divisions.

To address this, Lamamra launched a consultative group that includes the African Union, the Arab League, and peace-sponsoring countries. The group has met in Cairo, Djibouti, and Mauritania and plans to convene again in Brussels under EU sponsorship.

“What we need is not more mediators, but consensus around a unified vision,” he said. “Multiple tracks have allowed some parties to bet on contradictory international positions, delaying serious efforts toward peace.”

He pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 2724, which tasked him with coordinating peace efforts, emphasizing that its implementation hinges on aligning international efforts behind a single, realistic peace strategy.

Asked whether Sudan’s war has faded from global attention, Lamamra acknowledged that media coverage may fluctuate but said the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen.

“The suffering is daily and ongoing,” he said, highlighting the dire conditions in North Darfur and the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zamzam camp. “The tragedy breaks the heart.”

With over 13 million internally displaced and millions more seeking refuge abroad, Lamamra described Sudan as the site of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis today. “This is a country under siege by arms, division, and international silence,” he said.

He praised the special attention paid by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has longstanding ties to Sudan dating back to his leadership of the UN refugee agency.

Lamamra was especially vocal about the dangerous role of foreign military support. “Feeding the war with weapons is not support for resolution—it is participation in prolonging delusion and division,” he said.

He accused some regional and international actors of backing Sudanese factions in hopes of future influence. “They forget that war leaves nothing intact to control,” he noted. “It’s in no one’s interest to see Sudan collapse.”

The envoy reiterated the UN’s calls for a total halt to arms shipments and strict enforcement of Security Council resolutions aimed at cutting off military funding.

Despite international interference, Lamamra emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for ending the war lies with Sudanese themselves. “History will judge them first and foremost,” he underlined.

Lamamra said the Jeddah Declaration—an agreement brokered by Saudi Arabia to ensure humanitarian access and civilian protection—remains a viable starting point for peace efforts. He commended Riyadh’s efforts and urged regional actors to intensify pressure on warring factions.

He also pointed to the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad as a potential turning point. “Sudan is central to the Arab identity. This is not a crisis that allows for neutrality,” he said.

In a direct message to the Sudanese public, Lamamra expressed admiration for their resilience. “I visited Port Sudan recently and met with leaders and citizens. I was moved by their hospitality and strong will to take charge of their future,” he said.

He pledged the UN’s continued support, acknowledging the scale of the humanitarian challenge: “Children, women, and innocent civilians are being stripped of life’s basic necessities. This crisis demands a moral awakening—not just from governments, but from everyone who hears and sees.”

Lamamra concluded: “Peace is not a one-time event—it’s a long-term project. And if we don’t begin now, there may be nothing left to build on in a few months.”