Yemen FM Says Houthi Practices Are a Threat to Int’l Security

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak addresses the media during a joint press conference with his German counterpart prior to a meeting in the German Foreign Office in Berlin, on 30 June 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak addresses the media during a joint press conference with his German counterpart prior to a meeting in the German Foreign Office in Berlin, on 30 June 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Yemen FM Says Houthi Practices Are a Threat to Int’l Security

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak addresses the media during a joint press conference with his German counterpart prior to a meeting in the German Foreign Office in Berlin, on 30 June 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak addresses the media during a joint press conference with his German counterpart prior to a meeting in the German Foreign Office in Berlin, on 30 June 2021. (AFP via Getty Images)

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa called for continuing the joint work aimed at reinforcing international and regional security and stability.

He received the British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on the sidelines of the 18th edition of the IISS Manama Dialogue.

Prince Salman noted that Bahrain remains a beacon of peace, emphasizing the Kingdom's commitment in supporting international efforts that consolidate security, and peace.

During the Manama Dialogue, Yemen's Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Awad bin Mubarak denounced the practices of the Iran-backed Houthi militias, saying they are “a threat to the international security and peace”.

He urged the international community to exert more pressure on the Houths by endorsing the political solution based on the three references – the Gulf Initiative, the outcomes of Yemen's National Dialogue Conference, and UN Resolution 2216.

Yemen News Agency (SABA) reported that

Bin Mubarak and his UK counterpart met in Manama to discuss Houthi attacks on Yemen’s economic installations and oil ports.

Addressing the conference, bin Mubarak said the Iranian project has become clear and that the militias supported by it have become a threat jeopardizing the security of the Arabian Peninsula, region and world.

He stressed that the Yemeni government is committed to achieving peace to end the war and the bloodshed in Yemen.

“Any peaceful settlement in Yemen can't succeed unless the Yemenis agree on resolving their internal issues according to the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, and on a fair distribution of power and wealth,” he stated.

Moreover, the minister noted that the more the Houthis advance militarily the more they reject peace.

He stressed the importance of implementing the Riyadh Agreement as a pillar to achieving stability and peace, as well as uniting all political forces that oppose the Iranian agenda.

Furthermore, he demanded that the international and regional communities provide more support to the Yemeni government in its efforts to overcome economic challenges.



Damascus Stands at Equal Distance in Hostility to Both Tel Aviv and Tehran

Residents check the remains of an Iranian projectile that was headed for Israel, after it fell in Syria's southwestern Daraa province on June 13, 2025. (AFP)
Residents check the remains of an Iranian projectile that was headed for Israel, after it fell in Syria's southwestern Daraa province on June 13, 2025. (AFP)
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Damascus Stands at Equal Distance in Hostility to Both Tel Aviv and Tehran

Residents check the remains of an Iranian projectile that was headed for Israel, after it fell in Syria's southwestern Daraa province on June 13, 2025. (AFP)
Residents check the remains of an Iranian projectile that was headed for Israel, after it fell in Syria's southwestern Daraa province on June 13, 2025. (AFP)

Damascus remains a wary onlooker as conflict escalates between Israel and Iran, a confrontation threatening to engulf the broader Middle East.

Syria’s state media has given top billing to the tit-for-tat strikes, with the country's main news channel devoting extended airtime to live coverage and in-depth analysis of the fast-moving developments.

Despite widespread Arab and regional condemnation of Israel's actions, Syria has yet to issue an official statement or comment on the matter.

In a notable statement, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of dragging the region and the world toward catastrophe, advised Syria to steer clear of the conflict.

Erdogan described Israel’s actions as “reckless, aggressive and illegal,” calling them a clear provocation and blatant violation of international law.

During a phone call with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Saturday, Erdogan urged Damascus to avoid being drawn into the regional confrontation.

The two leaders discussed the rapidly intensifying Israeli-Iranian standoff and other regional and international issues of mutual concern, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

Syria has no intention of becoming involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to sources close to the government in Damascus, who say the war-ravaged country remains equally distrustful of both sides.

“The Syrian state is too fragile, and its priority is rebuilding and stabilization. It cannot afford to take ill-considered positions in a conflict involving two parties that have both contributed to Syria’s destruction,” a senior source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The source said Damascus is exercising “extreme caution” as regional tensions mount and is working to shield itself from any potential spillover.

Since returning to the regional fold, Syria has placed how it deals with Israel issue firmly on the Arab and international agenda, advocating negotiations and the implementation of the 1974 disengagement agreement without ruling out the possibility of a future peace deal.

Despite repeated Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory, including hits on military sites, Damascus has stuck to its position, seeking diplomatic solutions while avoiding direct confrontation.

As for Iran, even after its withdrawal from Syria, Damascus still views Tehran as a rival, accusing it of continued interference and attempts to undermine Syria’s security and stability.

Sources close to the Syrian government said Damascus fears the broader implications of Israel’s aggressive posture, warning that unchecked escalation could destabilize the entire region.

“There will be no official position from Damascus against either side, unless Syria itself is directly targeted,” one source said, noting that the government remains focused on protecting its own fragile recovery and avoiding entanglement in a wider regional conflict.