Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak has heavily criticized Lebanon-based Hezbollah’s interference in the Yemeni crisis and demanded that the country take effective measures to shut-down Houthi satellite channels broadcasting from Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“Lebanon has announced a policy of disassociation towards the Yemeni crisis. But, so far, we have witnessed direct intervention that goes beyond statements and speeches,” the top Yemeni diplomat told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Bin Mubarak criticized Lebanon for not curbing Hezbollah’s sending of fighters to Yemen, training of Houthis, transferring technology to militants and hosting Yemeni insurgency satellite channels.
“All of these factors offend the historical link between Yemen and Lebanon,” said bin Mubarak, blaming Hezbollah for threatening Yemeni-Lebanese ties with desperate actions it is taking to transform the country into a hub for blatant intervention in the internal affairs of other Arab nations.
“We only want Lebanon to be within its Arab environment,” affirmed bin Mubarak, stating that Yemen supports any move taken to restore Lebanon to the Arab world.
Moreover, bin Mubarak displayed great diplomacy when talking about the Lebanese interior minister’s February pledge to investigate the operations of Houthi channels in Lebanon.
Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi had promised the Yemeni government to investigate and take measures against channels broadcasting illegally from Lebanon.
“These promises remained mere ink on paper without any efforts being exerted to fulfill them,” said bin Mubarak.
“We are waiting for action,” added the minister, warning that the presence of channels that incite violence and recruit youth could harm Lebanon’s relations not only with Yemen, but also with its Arab surrounding.
Reminding that Houthis continue to recruit child soldiers, bin Mubarak slammed Houthi-linked channels broadcasting from Lebanon as a tool for perpetuating the war in Yemen.
“Therefore, we look closely at this issue and believe that our brothers in Lebanon, officially and popularly, reject this type of incitement emanating from Beirut, which has always served as an umbrella for all Arabs,” he said.
