Alimi Warns Against Houthi Escalation, Says it Sabotages Peace Efforts

The President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, chaired the meeting with the ambassadors (Saba)
The President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, chaired the meeting with the ambassadors (Saba)
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Alimi Warns Against Houthi Escalation, Says it Sabotages Peace Efforts

The President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, chaired the meeting with the ambassadors (Saba)
The President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, chaired the meeting with the ambassadors (Saba)

The President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad al-Alimi, warned that the Houthi terrorist attacks on oil export ports and vital economic structures would undermine peace efforts, stressing that the legitimate government reserves the right to respond to these attacks.

Alimi and council member Faraj al-Bahssani met with the Ambassador of the Permanent Members of the Security Council and the European Countries to Yemen.

The Iranian-backed Houthi militia had launched attacks on oil export ports in Hadhramaut and Shabwa to prevent oil export and blackmail the Yemeni government into sharing oil sales revenues.

The militias refused to extend and expand the truce, according to the proposal of the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg.

The state-run Saba news agency reported that Alimi praised the unified international position on the Yemeni issue, stressing the Council's and the government's adherence to a comprehensive solution to the crisis under national, regional, and international references.

The Chairman recalled to the ambassadors how the militias violated all peace efforts and the ceasefire, revealing to the whole world they were not a serious peace partner.

Alimi praised the coalition's position to support legitimacy led by Saudi Arabia, which facilitated the truce, lauding the Kingdom's initiative to bring peace, security, and stability to Yemen.

Official sources noted that Alimi warned that the Houthi terrorist attacks on the economic infrastructure would eliminate peace efforts and have disastrous humanitarian repercussions that might include the government's inability to pay employees' salaries and failure to meet the population's basic needs.

He said that the Houthi escalation proved that these militias are manipulated by the Iranian regime, whose regional operations are orchestrated by Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) from "one black room."

According to Saba Agency, Alimi informed foreign ambassadors of the government measures to deter Houthi terrorist violations of international law under the National Defense Council's decision to designate the militias as a "terrorist organization."

He reassured the humanitarian actions organizations that the government has taken into account that humanitarian and relief interventions will not be affected all over the country.

The President provided a detailed presentation about the outcomes of the ongoing reforms of the Council and government and the needed international support to bolster the reformative campaign.

Alimi referred to the achievements in institutionalizing services, combating corruption, and protecting rights and freedoms, including activating the role of judicial, parliamentary, and oversight bodies.

He touched on the ongoing efforts to rebuild the army and security institutions and service reforms in various sectors with the support of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Ambassadors praised the government's initiatives to mitigate the humanitarian suffering and its constructive dealing with the de-escalation efforts.

They confirmed their full support for the economic and services reforms in the government-held governorates.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Mohsen al-Daeri did not rule out a return to the military option if efforts to renew the UN truce collapsed.

Daeri confirmed, in statements carried by the al-Arabiya channel, that the armed forces and the supporting coalition forces have many alternative and coordinated plans for an unconventional war and battles.

He said that the military committee formed to unify the forces made significant achievements and accomplished most of the theoretical matters. The authorities will organize the field committees to implement everything agreed upon.



Kallas: EU Delegation in Damascus to Become Fully Operational Again

Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks during a debate on 'Toppling of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region' at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 17 December 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks during a debate on 'Toppling of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region' at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 17 December 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
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Kallas: EU Delegation in Damascus to Become Fully Operational Again

Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks during a debate on 'Toppling of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region' at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 17 December 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks during a debate on 'Toppling of the Syrian regime, its geopolitical implications and the humanitarian situation in the region' at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 17 December 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

The European Union will reopen its delegation in Syria, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday.
While the EU delegation, which is like an embassy, in Syria was never officially closed, there had not been an accredited ambassador in Damascus during the war in Syria, Kallas said.
"We want this delegation to be fully operational again," Kallas said in European Parliament.
According to Reuters, Kallas said she had asked the EU's delegation head to go to Damascus on Monday to establish contact with the new leadership in Syria and various other groups.
Germany, the United States and Britain had earlier already established contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) after it led the overthrow of Syria's Bashar al-Assad.