Yemen Presidential Council Stresses Need to Take Deterrent Measures against Houthi Terror

Dr. Rashad al-Alimi chairs the Presidential Leadership Council meeting on Sunday. (Saba)
Dr. Rashad al-Alimi chairs the Presidential Leadership Council meeting on Sunday. (Saba)
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Yemen Presidential Council Stresses Need to Take Deterrent Measures against Houthi Terror

Dr. Rashad al-Alimi chairs the Presidential Leadership Council meeting on Sunday. (Saba)
Dr. Rashad al-Alimi chairs the Presidential Leadership Council meeting on Sunday. (Saba)

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council said on Sunday it will implement deterrent punitive measures against the Iran-backed Houthi militias in response to its terrorist escalation.

It held the militias fully responsible for the consequences of their attacks on life-saving humanitarian supplies.

PLC Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi convened the virtual council meeting that tackled ongoing efforts to take measures to stop Houthi terrorism and attacks against oil export ports.

Yemeni sources said the meeting discussed local developments and structural reforms at “sovereign agencies.”

It also tackled “government measures to implement National Defense Council Resolution No. (1) of 2022 related to the classification of the Houthi militias as terrorist,” the sources added.

The council discussed proposals to strengthen the role of agencies concerned with combating terrorism, deterring Houthi attacks on infrastructure and economic facilities and threats to international peace and security.

The Presidential Leadership Council stressed its commitment to defending national sovereign interests and facilities, securing basic services and livelihoods, and limiting the repercussions of the systematic terrorist targeting of the oil sector and civilian facilities.

Meanwhile, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak discussed with US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin on Sunday the developments in Yemen and the repercussions of the continued terrorist Houthi attacks on ships and economic and oil installations, reported the state news agency Saba.

They discussed the difficulties impeding peace efforts in Yemen in wake of the Houthi escalation and their threat to international navigation and international peace and security.

Bin Mubarak said the government is proceeding with the procedures to implement the decision to designate the militias as a terrorist organization.

He highlighted the importance of the international community's support for the decision to help contain the Houthi threat.

For his part, the US ambassador renewed his country's condemnation of the Houthi terrorist attacks on oil facilities, stressing his country's support for the security, stability and unity of Yemen.



EU Could Lift Some Syria Sanctions Quickly

FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
TT

EU Could Lift Some Syria Sanctions Quickly

FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 30 September 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a press conference at the Pine Residence, the official residence of the French ambassador to Lebanon. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

European Union sanctions in Syria that obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid and hinder the country's recovery could be lifted swiftly, France's foreign minister said Wednesday.
The United States on Monday issued a sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule to try to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance.
Speaking to France Inter radio, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the EU could take a similar decision soon without giving precise timing, while adding that lifting more political sanctions would depend on how Syria's new leadership handled the transition and ensured exclusivity.
"There are other (sanctions), which today hinder access to humanitarian aid, which hinder the recovery of the country. These could be lifted quickly," said Barrot, who met Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday with Germany's foreign minister.
"Finally, there are other sanctions, which we are discussing with our European partners, which could be lifted, but obviously depending on the pace at which our expectations for Syria regarding women and security are taken into account."
Three European diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity said the EU would seek to agree to lift some sanctions by the time the bloc's 27 foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Jan. 27.
Two of the diplomats said one aim was to facilitate financial transactions to allow funds to return to the country, ease air transport and lessen sanctions targeting the energy sector to improve power supplies.
Syria suffers from severe power shortages, with state-supplied electricity available two or three hours per day in most areas. The caretaker government says it aims to provide electricity for up to eight hours per day within two months.
The US waivers allow some energy transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7, but do not remove any sanctions.