عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Al-Alimi Urges Pressure on Houthis, Blinken Describes Yemeni Leadership as Bold

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi at a meeting in Jeddah with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi at a meeting in Jeddah with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Saba)
    Jeddah, Aden - Abdulhadi Habtor and Ali Rabih
TT
20
TT

Al-Alimi Urges Pressure on Houthis, Blinken Describes Yemeni Leadership as Bold

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi at a meeting in Jeddah with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Saba)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi at a meeting in Jeddah with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Saba)

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi discussed the situation in Yemen with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Saturday.

After reviewing developments in Yemen and the costly war caused by Iran-backed Houthi militias, al-Alimi called for more pressure on the militias to implement the ongoing truce.

Al-Alimi stressed the PLC’s commitment to realizing a just and comprehensive peace, based on national, regional, and international references, especially UN Security Council Resolution 2216.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, and Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak attended the meeting.

Al-Alimi called for an active US role to pressure the Houthi militias to implement the terms of the truce, according to a statement carried by Yemen's state news agency Saba.

“We found great appreciation from the US for the concessions made by the Yemeni government to make the truce succeed, despite the Houthis’ lack of commitment,” Mubarak told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The US also underscored its support for the PLC and the reforms it is implementing,” he added.

“I met Yemeni PLC President al-Alimi in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss extending the UN truce to ease Yemenis’ suffering,” tweeted Blinken.

“I welcome the Government’s bold leadership on the truce. We must see meaningful Houthi action to allow access to Taiz, Yemen,” added the State Secretary in the same tweet.

Blinken underlined his country's commitment to supporting Yemen's unity, sovereignty, and stability, and to encourage regional and international allies to provide more economic and humanitarian support to the PLC, the government, and the Yemeni people.

He also stressed that his country is committed to pressuring Houthi militias to fulfill their obligations under the armistice.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Lebanon: Mysterious Evacuation Calls Renew Fears of Israeli Strikes

A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
TT
20
TT

Lebanon: Mysterious Evacuation Calls Renew Fears of Israeli Strikes

A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)
A Lebanese soldier secures participants during a marathon in Beirut last week (AP)

A wave of anonymous phone calls urging residents to evacuate buildings in southern and eastern Lebanon sparked fresh panic on Saturday over potential Israeli attacks. Though the threats later proved to be unfounded and traced to local sources, the incident unfolded amid heightened tensions and the continued presence of Israeli military aircraft in the skies above South Lebanon.

According to local media reports, Lebanese citizens in the town of Tammine in the Bekaa Valley (eastern Lebanon) received phone calls urging them to evacuate a residential building. Security forces immediately launched an investigation into the origin of the calls, while residents evacuated the building as a precaution.

After coordination with Lebanese security agencies, authorities confirmed the caller was Lebanese and the threat lacked credibility. Legal measures were initiated against the individual responsible for the hoax threat.

Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the calls were made from within Lebanese territory, and the numbers are being tracked using technical means. “We are monitoring these calls and pursuing those responsible,” a source said.

This incident is the latest in a series of similar events. Over the past few months, especially during the expanded conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, hundreds of Lebanese citizens have received anonymous calls warning of imminent strikes, spreading fear across communities.

Lebanese authorities have arrested around 20 individuals linked to these threats. Security officials noted that during periods of active conflict, Lebanon’s military intelligence identified coordinated foreign campaigns - some linked to Israel - aimed at inciting fear among the population.

“These calls were part of organized external efforts, and in some cases, the Lebanese army’s intelligence managed to trace and neutralize them by blocking digital access points used to relay such messages,” a security source explained. “They were indeed causing panic among residents.”

Residents, particularly in southern Lebanon, say they have no choice but to treat such calls seriously. Israel has occasionally issued official warnings ahead of attacks, as seen in two incidents in Beirut’s southern suburbs after a ceasefire agreement took effect. However, in other instances, Israeli aircraft have carried out strikes without warning, further fueling concern among civilians and prompting widespread caution.

Saturday’s panic was further heightened by intensified Israeli aerial activity over southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported low-flying Israeli fighter jets over the villages and towns of Tyre district, as well as over Jezzine and the eastern sector of the south.

Local activists also reported Israeli drones flying at low altitude above the Litani River basin. One drone reportedly dropped two sound bombs over the Wadi al-Asafir area in the town of Khiam.