Yemen’s Zubaidi Vows Firm Response to Any Houthi Military Escalation

A file picture of Deputy head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Aidarous al-Zubaidi. (AFP
A file picture of Deputy head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Aidarous al-Zubaidi. (AFP
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Yemen’s Zubaidi Vows Firm Response to Any Houthi Military Escalation

A file picture of Deputy head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Aidarous al-Zubaidi. (AFP
A file picture of Deputy head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Aidarous al-Zubaidi. (AFP

Deputy head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Aidarous al-Zubaidi on Thursday threatened to respond firmly to any military escalation by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias.

This comes in the wake of the warring sides’ failure to reach an agreement to extend a nationwide ceasefire, which expired on October 2.

Zubaidi also stressed that the Houthi militias’ political blackmail attempts to obtain additional gains are “unacceptable” and must stop immediately.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Egypt’s non-resident ambassador to Yemen Ahmed Farouk in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Thursday.

He called for adopting a unified and decisive international stance to put an end to the militias’ hostile behavior against peace efforts.

Deputy head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Brigadier General Tariq Saleh, affirmed that the Council seeks to attain peace but is also prepared for war.

This came during his meeting with the presidency of the PLC’s Consultations and Reconciliation Commission to discuss the latest developments and the Commission’s role in bolstering the PLC’s efforts in this regard.

Saleh reiterated that all the discussed matters are due to the wars waged by the Houthis and Iran’s agenda.

He underscored the importance of overcoming their effects and renewed the PLC’s adherence to restore national sovereignty and the country’s constitutional institutions.

He further underlined the need to implement the law, protect the people’s freedoms, rights and resources, including their salaries, and release prisoners, with or without a truce.

Separately, the United Nations Security Council’s Sanctions Committee added three Houthi officials to its sanctions list for their involvement in terrorist activities.

These figures are Ahmad al-Hamzi, Mansour al-Saadi and Mutlaq Amer al-Marani.

According to the Committee, Hamzi, commander of Houthi air and air defense forces, as well as the drone program, has engaged in acts and provided support for acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Yemen, including violations of the targeted arms embargo.

It explained that Saadi was sanctioned for his role as chief of staff of the Houthi naval forces, who orchestrated deadly attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea.

“He also has a leading role in Houthi naval efforts that threaten direct peace, security and stability in Yemen.”

Marani was also sanctioned for his work as a deputy head of Houthi National Security Bureau (NSB) and supervisor of the national security detainees who were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during detention.

He also planned and directed the illegal arrest and detention of humanitarian workers in the field and the illegal diversion of humanitarian aid in violation of international law.



Blinken: US Will Continue to Press Israel to Do More to Spare Humanitarian Sites in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)
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Blinken: US Will Continue to Press Israel to Do More to Spare Humanitarian Sites in Gaza

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken boards his plane at the Chopin Airport in Warsaw on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday the United States will continue to urge Israel to do more to spare humanitarian sites in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli airstrike on a UN school complex sheltering displaced Palestinians killed six UN staffers.

When asked at a news conference in the Polish capital about Israel’s bombing of the school complex in central Gaza the day before, Blinken told reporters that “we need to see humanitarian sites protected.”

“That’s something we continue to raise with Israel,” he said.

Wednesday's strike on the UN-supported al-Jaouni Preparatory Boys School in Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza, killed at least 14 people, including two children and a woman, hospital officials said. Among those killed were six staffers from the UN Palestinian refugee agency, known as UNRWA, the main UN relief agency in Gaza.

UNRWA described the strike as the deadliest single incident for its staff members. Among those killed at the school, it said, were the manager of the shelter and others working to help the thousands of displaced people taking refuge there, including teachers.

The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said at least 220 UNRWA staffers have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s military offensive began in response to Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Blinken blamed Hamas for continuing to hide its fighters among civilians and said the bombing “underscores the urgency" of reaching a cease-fire in the embattled territory.