Yemen Seeks Security, Military Integration in Liberated Areas

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg (UN Agencies)
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg (UN Agencies)
TT
20

Yemen Seeks Security, Military Integration in Liberated Areas

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg (UN Agencies)
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg (UN Agencies)

Yemen’s Supreme Security Committee has stressed the importance of cooperation and integration among security and military bodies in liberated areas of the war-torn nation.

The Committee held a meeting on Monday in the interim capital of Aden.

Headed by Defense Minister Lt-Gen Muhammad Al-Maqdashi, the meeting sought examining the latest developments in the military and security fields in various Yemeni governorates.

It also dealt with ways to enhance coordination, cooperation and integration between the security and military agencies to achieve security and stability and impose public peace.

Interior Minister Ibrahim Ali Ahmed Haidan, the head of the political security apparatus, Abdu al-Hudhaifi, and the head of the intelligence and reconnaissance authority at the Defense Ministry, Ahmed Mohsen Al-Yafei, have attended the meeting.

The interlocutors discussed “the achievements of the security services’ during the last period in the liberated governorates, in seizing many terrorist cells and thwarting criminal plots targeting peace and security,” Saba News Agency reported.

The attendees referred to the “importance of the constitutional and national tasks entrusted to the military and security establishment, in light of the process of political transition of power that was agreed upon with the aim of unifying the national ranks.”

According to a statement carried by Saba, the meeting stressed the need to upgrade the work of security and military institutions to meet obligations of an exceptional phase, with the goal of restoring the state and its republican regime from Houthi coup militias.

The meeting also touched on counterterrorism efforts.

The head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, had confirmed in a speech two days ago that the Council “will move forward with efforts to unify the military and security institutions, as stipulated by the Riyadh Agreement.”

Furthermore, the official twitter account for the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY) Hans Grundberg, said "the UN Envoy kicked off today (Monday) a two-day meeting with Yemeni economic experts, with the participation of international stakeholders, to consult on immediate, short and long-term priorities for economic issues to address in the peace process in Yemen."

Meanwhile, Houthi violations of the UN-sponsored truce continue to take place in various Yemeni governorates.

On Saturday, the Yemeni Army reported 80 Houthi violations on various fighting fronts.



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
20

Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.