Yemen Reiterates Security, Military Preparedness to Confront Houthis

Yemen's Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba)
Yemen's Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba)
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Yemen Reiterates Security, Military Preparedness to Confront Houthis

Yemen's Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba)
Yemen's Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba)

The Yemeni government asserted the need to raise security and military readiness and called for popular support, hinting at resorting to "difficult choices" in response to Houthi terrorism.

Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik affirmed that the government would continue to take practical and firm measures to combat corruption, activate the rule of law, and reform state institutions within the comprehensive reform program.

Abdulmalik was speaking during a reception with the governors of the liberated governorates, where they discussed the coordination and integration of central and local measures to implement the National Defense Council's decision to classify the Houthi militia as a "terrorist group."

Saba news agency reported that the meeting was held via videoconferencing, with the participation of a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, the governor of Marib, Sultan al-Arada.

The meeting asserted the need to increase security and military readiness and effective communication with political forces and social figures to support "difficult choices" that the leadership and the government may resort to in dealing with Houthi threats.

They indicated that restoring the state and ending the Iranian-backed Houthi coup has become the inevitable option to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, protect international navigation, and regional and global stability.

The meeting held the "terrorist Houthi militia" responsible for the dire consequences of its devastating escalation, including the repercussions on peace efforts.

According to official sources, the Prime Minister stressed that executive offices should adhere to the ministries' directives regarding the executive procedures for classifying the Houthi militia as a "terrorist group," following up on the implementation and submission of periodic reports.

The meeting reviewed the challenges and difficulties in Aden and the liberated governorates.

They agreed on a set of decisions, according to available priorities and capabilities, namely electricity and water, and taking firm measures to combat corruption.

The sources stated that Abdulmalik affirmed the government's full support to the local authorities and provided all possible support for the success of their efforts in improving services.

The state established a set of measures and options to deal with the repeated Houthi terrorist attacks on oil facilities, stressing the need to end the coup and ensure the restoration of the state.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the priority of the state and government, which will determine all political, diplomatic, economic, military, and security tracks, is securing oil exports, meeting the needs of the citizens, and maintaining the minimum level of rights and services.

He described the Houthi attacks on oil ports as a "declaration of open war," warning that this would impact the national economic institutions and the lives and livelihood of citizens.

Abdulmalik renewed his government's commitment to defending national sovereign interests and facilities, securing essential services and livelihoods, and limiting the repercussions of the systematic terrorist targeting of the oil sector and civilian facilities.

He praised the "pivotal role" of the local authorities. He noted the need to rebuild the state institutions and activate their work, considering that a critical factor in limiting corruption.

The Yemeni National Defense Council approved the classification of Houthi militia as a terrorist group following its escalation by targeting the oil export ports in Hadramout and Shabwa through booby-trapped drones.

The approved Yemeni measures include punishing Houthi leaders and individuals involved in a suspicious financing network to provide financial and service support to the Iran-backed group.



Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)

The Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Gaza on Wednesday, but a security source said the death appeared to have been caused by "friendly fire".

"Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, from HaYogev, a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

A security source, however, told AFP that the soldier appeared to have been "killed by friendly fire", without providing further details.

"The incident is still under investigation," the source added.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.


Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
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Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said the process of merging the SDF with Syrian government forces “may take some time,” despite expressing confidence in the eventual success of the agreement.

His remarks came after earlier comments in which he acknowledged differences with Damascus over the concept of “decentralization.”

Speaking at a tribal conference in the northeastern city of Hasakah on Tuesday, Abdi said the issue of integration would not be resolved quickly, but stressed that the agreement remains on track.

He said the deal reached last month stipulates that three Syrian army brigades will be created out of the SDF.

Abdi added that all SDF military units have withdrawn to their barracks in an effort to preserve stability and continue implementing the announced integration agreement with the Syrian state.

He also emphasized the need for armed forces to withdraw from the vicinity of the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), to be replaced by security forces tasked with maintaining order.


Israeli Far-Right Minister to Push for ‘Migration’ of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians 

A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)
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Israeli Far-Right Minister to Push for ‘Migration’ of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians 

A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would pursue a policy of "encouraging the migration" of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported Wednesday.

"We will eliminate the idea of an Arab terror state," said Smotrich, speaking at an event organized by his Religious Zionism Party late on Tuesday.

"We will finally, formally, and in practical terms nullify the cursed Oslo Accords and embark on a path toward sovereignty, while encouraging emigration from both Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

"There is no other long-term solution," added Smotrich, who himself lives in a settlement in the West Bank.

Since last week, Israel has approved a series of measures backed by far-right ministers to tighten control over the West Bank, including in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords, in place since the 1990s.

The measures include a process to register land in the West Bank as "state property" and facilitate direct purchases of land by Jewish Israelis.

The measures have triggered widespread international outrage.

On Tuesday, the UN missions of 85 countries condemned the measures, which critics say amount to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory.

"We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel's unlawful presence in the West Bank," they said in a statement.

"Such decisions are contrary to Israel's obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed.

"We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on Israel to reverse its land registration policy, calling it "destabilizing" and "unlawful".

The West Bank would form the largest part of any future Palestinian state. Many on Israel's religious right view it as Israeli land.

Israeli NGOs have also raised the alarm over a settlement plan signed by the government which they say would mark the first expansion of Jerusalem's borders into the occupied West Bank since 1967.

The planned development, announced by Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing, is formally a westward expansion of the Geva Binyamin, or Adam, settlement situated northeast of Jerusalem in the West Bank.

The current Israeli government has fast-tracked settlement expansion, approving a record 52 settlements in 2025.

Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law.