Yemeni Government Seeks to Raise Combat Forces Readiness

General view of Aden, Yemen, August 12, 2019. (Reuters)
General view of Aden, Yemen, August 12, 2019. (Reuters)
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Yemeni Government Seeks to Raise Combat Forces Readiness

General view of Aden, Yemen, August 12, 2019. (Reuters)
General view of Aden, Yemen, August 12, 2019. (Reuters)

The Yemeni government has announced that it was working to raise the readiness of armed forces to confront outlaws and pursue terrorist elements.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting in the city of Aden amid a campaign led by security and military forces in separate areas of Abyan and Shabwa to track down members of extremist organizations.

An official statement noted that the Council of Ministers “called on all the military and security services in the temporary capital and the liberated governorates, to raise their readiness to confront terrorist acts” and to implement proactive plans to maintain security and stability.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni government welcomed the statement issued by the UN Security Council, and the international positions that clearly condemned the obstacles set by the Houthi militia to hinder the arrival of fuel ships at the ports of Hodeidah.

In the same context, the Yemeni cabinet renewed its commitment to a comprehensive and sustainable peace approach in accordance with locally agreed and supported regional and international references, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities regarding the Houthi militia’s violations of the humanitarian truce, its continued refusal to deal with all peaceful efforts, and its rejection to lift its siege on the city of Taiz and the opening of roads under the terms of the armistice.

Meanwhile, Yemeni Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Mohsen al-Daari held several meetings with Western military officials in Riyadh.

He also met with the Commander of the Joint Forces, Deputy Chief of the Saudi General Staff, Lieutenant-General Mutlaq bin Salem Al-Azima.

Yemeni official sources noted that Al-Daari discussed with Al-Azima the readiness of the combat forces, stressing that the next stage was crucial in the history of Yemen, its armed forces in particular, and the region in general.

The Yemeni Minister of Defense affirmed the commitment of the armed forces to the UN truce, despite the Houthi violations. He also accused the militia of coordinating “with elements of Al-Qaeda and ISIS to carry out terrorist operations in the liberated areas.”



Israeli Commander Calls for Occupying Parts of Southern Lebanon to Form Buffer Zone

A smoke plume billows during Israeli bombardment on the village of Kfar Shouba in south Lebanon near the border with Israel on September 16, 2024 amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (AFP)
A smoke plume billows during Israeli bombardment on the village of Kfar Shouba in south Lebanon near the border with Israel on September 16, 2024 amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (AFP)
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Israeli Commander Calls for Occupying Parts of Southern Lebanon to Form Buffer Zone

A smoke plume billows during Israeli bombardment on the village of Kfar Shouba in south Lebanon near the border with Israel on September 16, 2024 amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (AFP)
A smoke plume billows during Israeli bombardment on the village of Kfar Shouba in south Lebanon near the border with Israel on September 16, 2024 amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (AFP)

Commander of Israel’s Northern Command Major General Ori Gordin called on Monday for occupying part of southern Lebanon to turn it into a buffer zone that would prevent Hezbollah from launching attacks on northern Israel, thereby allowing displaced residents of the North to return to their homes.

Gordin submitted his recommendation to Israel’s chief of staff, reported Israel’s Israel Hayom daily.

It quoted sources as saying that Gordin believes that the conditions are appropriate and the army could create the buffer zone in a short time.

They explained that Israel has killed several members of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit that is deployed along the Lebanese-Israeli border. Several of the members have also fled the area.

Only 20 percent of the Lebanese population remains in the South with the rest fleeing the attacks between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah had started launching attacks against Israel in support of Hamas in wake of the October 7 attack.

The sources noted that the low number of civilians in the region would make the Israeli military’s operation “simple and much faster.”

The purpose of the operation would be to eliminate the Hezbollah threat and force it to remove its fighters from the border areas so that they can no longer pose a risk to northern Israel, said Gordin.

Moreover, the occupation of some southern regions would gain Israel a bargaining chip in talks over a permanent settlement, which Hezbollah would have to agree to in exchange for the withdrawal of the Israeli army, he added.

Israel Hayom reported that some forces in the army expressed their reservations over the plan because it would pave the way for a wide-scale battle with Hezbollah. They warned that it remains unclear if such a fight could be contained to prevent it from turning into a long battle that may turn into a broad regional conflict.

Israel on Tuesday expanded its stated goals of the war in Gaza to include enabling residents to return to communities in northern Israel that have been evacuated due to attacks by Hezbollah.

The decision was approved during an overnight meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, Netanyahu's office said.

Israel Hayom said that the majority of political and military leaderships in Israel were not keen on waging a war on Lebanon. They believe that Israel can deal Hezbollah a fatal blow, but it would incur heavy losses in the process.