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.



Estimates of Hunger, Disease Claiming 990 Lives in Sudan’s Darfur

Sudanese displaced arrive in El Gedaref city in the east on Sunday, fleeing from Sennar state to the south (AFP)
Sudanese displaced arrive in El Gedaref city in the east on Sunday, fleeing from Sennar state to the south (AFP)
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Estimates of Hunger, Disease Claiming 990 Lives in Sudan’s Darfur

Sudanese displaced arrive in El Gedaref city in the east on Sunday, fleeing from Sennar state to the south (AFP)
Sudanese displaced arrive in El Gedaref city in the east on Sunday, fleeing from Sennar state to the south (AFP)

Over 50,000 people fled by foot from intense fighting between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudanese city of El Fashir, North Darfur. They walked more than 60 kilometers to Tawila town in scorching temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Some died from hunger and thirst, as reported by local media.

Displaced individuals in Tawila and other Darfur towns endure dire conditions, with 991 deaths recorded between April 15 and May 15 due to famine and disease outbreaks, according to Adam Rijal, spokesperson for Darfur’s Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees.

“The displaced in Tawila are starving, with children crying from hunger,” Rijal told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The little milk they receive isn’t enough for their small stomachs,” he added, underscoring Tawila’s critical lack of basic essentials.

Eyewitnesses described dire conditions faced by refugees fleeing war on their long journey to Tawila, where scorching temperatures worsened their plight.

Asylum seekers in Tawila affirm that the displacement journeys are unsafe, with vulnerable refugees at risk of being robbed by armed gangs. Those reaching Tawila considered themselves lucky to have avoided such attacks.

Sudanese human rights activist Adam Idris told Asharq Al-Awsat that indiscriminate shelling in El Fashir claimed hundreds of lives, forcing many to flee to Tawila and areas controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement.

Idris noted that some displaced persons died en route due to hunger and thirst, urging humanitarian organizations to swiftly provide aid in the town.

In a related development, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday that over 402,000 Sudanese refugees are now registered in Egypt, with more expected in the coming months.

In a statement, UNHCR noted that over 38,000 Sudanese refugees arrived in Egypt in May alone. Libya and Uganda have recently joined the Regional Refugee Response Plan, along with the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

UNHCR emphasized that only 19% of the needed funds for refugee assistance have been received so far, insufficient to meet the urgent needs of displaced people.

In Libya, more than 20,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived since April, with many settling in the eastern regions.

Uganda, hosting the largest number of refugees in Africa, has received over 39,000 Sudanese refugees since the conflict began, including 27,000 this year. This number is nearly three times higher than anticipated.

After 14 months of conflict, thousands continue to flee Sudan due to violence, violations, death, disrupted services, and limited humanitarian aid access, with the threat of famine looming.