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.



Jerusalem Patriarch Hails Pope’s Commitment to Gaza

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)
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Jerusalem Patriarch Hails Pope’s Commitment to Gaza

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a press conference at the Latin Catholic patriarchate at the Old City of Jerusalem, 22 April 2025. (EPA)

The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on Tuesday hailed Pope Francis's support for Gazans and engagement with the small Catholic community in the war-battered Palestinian territory.

The Catholic church's highest authority in the region, who is considered a potential successor to the late pontiff, Pizzaballa told journalists in Jerusalem that "Gaza represents, a little bit, all what was the heart of his pontificate".

Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, advocated peace and "closeness to the poor... and to the neglected one", said the patriarch.

These positions became particularly evident in Francis's response to the Israel-Hamas war which broke out in October 2023, Pizzaballa said.

"He was very close to the community of Gaza, the parish of Gaza, he kept calling them many times -- for a certain period, also every day, every evening at 7 pm," said the patriarch.

He added that by doing so, the pope "became for the community something stable, and also comforting for them, and he knew this".

Out of the Gaza Strip's 2.4 million people, about 1,000 are Christians. Most of them are Orthodox, but according to the Latin Patriarchate, there are about 135 Catholics in the territory.

Since the early days of the war, members of the Catholic community have been sheltering at Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City, and some Orthodox Christians have also found refuge there.

Pope Francis repeatedly called for an end to the war. The day before his death, in a final Easter message delivered on Sunday, he condemned the "deplorable humanitarian situation" in the besieged territory.

"Work for justice... but without becoming part of the conflict," said Pizzaballa of the late pontiff's actions.

"For us, for the Church, it leaves an important legacy."

The patriarch thanked the numerous Palestinian and Israeli public figures who have offered their condolences, preferring not to comment on the lack of any official message from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Even as "the local authorities... were not always happy" with the pope's positions or statements, they were "always very respectful", he said.

Pizzaballa said he will travel to Rome on Wednesday, after leading a requiem mass for the pope at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem in the morning.

As one of the 135 cardinal electors, the Latin patriarch will participate in the conclave to elect a new pope.

Pizzaballa, a 60-year-old Italian Franciscan who also speaks English and Hebrew, arrived in Jerusalem in 1990 and was made a cardinal in September 2023, just before the Gaza war began.

His visits to Gaza and appeals for peace since then have attracted international attention.