Yemen’s PLC Establishes ‘Crisis Cell,’ Stresses End to Banking Distortions

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)
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Yemen’s PLC Establishes ‘Crisis Cell,’ Stresses End to Banking Distortions

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)
The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council meets in Riyadh with Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik (Saba News Agency)

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has ordered the formation of a “crisis cell” headed by Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik to follow up on economic developments. The PLC also stressed the need to end monetary distortions in the banking market.

Houthi militias, on the other hand, continue to reject proposals to renew and expand the truce.

Instead of agreeing to pay the salaries of civil servants, Houthi leaders are threatening to repeat attacks on oil export ports in government-run areas and restarting battles towards southern governorates.

According to Yemeni sources, PLC head Rashad al-Alimi held a meeting for the ruling council in Riyadh.

All members of the PLC contributed to the discussions. While Sultan al-Errada, Abdurrahman al-Mahrami, Abdullah al-Alimi, and Othman Mujalli were present in person, Aidarous Azaibaid, Tariq Saleh and Faraj al-Bahssani contributed to the meeting via video conference.

“The meeting discussed humanitarian and economic conditions. It also tackled policies required to face the current challenges, including government measures limiting the catastrophic repercussions of the Houthi terrorist attacks on oil facilities and global freedom of trade,” Saba News Agency reported.

“The prime minister provided a detailed report about the latest developments in the national arena and the government's ongoing efforts to handle the economic, services, military and security issues.”

Moreover, Abdulmalik briefed the PLC on policies aimed at maintaining economic, monetary, service and commodity stability, and maintaining the public budget deficit at safe levels, in a way that prevents any side effects on vulnerable social groups.

The PLC, for its part, stressed the importance of “ending monetary distortions in exchange rates, including stopping speculation, depleting reserves of hard currencies, and controlling the value of the national currency, which has achieved relative stability during the last period.”

Also, the PLC “affirmed its support for government policies and moving forward with the implementation of the National Defense Council’s decision to classify the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization.”

The PLC said it will take all measures necessary to dry up funding sources for Houthis, secure national facilities and deter any criminal threats to the interests of citizens.



Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)
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Iraqi Judiciary Faces Challenge After Trump’s Win, Arrest Warrant Issued

Trump at an election rally (AFP)
Trump at an election rally (AFP)

Iraqi President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani congratulated Donald Trump on his win in the US presidential election.

At the same time, Iraq’s parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee began discussing how to handle Trump, following an arrest warrant issued by the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council over his role in the deaths of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Committee member Mokhtar al-Moussawi said in a statement that, under Iraqi law, “Trump is considered a criminal,” but Iraq will engage with him normally due to national interests.

He stressed that Trump’s victory would not affect relations between Baghdad and Washington.

Al-Moussawi, a member of the Shiite Coordination Framework, explained to the press that the US operates as an institutional country and foreign policy doesn’t change much with different presidents.

He also noted that Trump did not recognize or respect the Iraqi government, pointing out that his previous visit to Iraq was limited to meeting US troops at the Al-Asad airbase. Still, Iraq will deal with Trump normally.

The parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee member concluded by saying, “If Trump visits Iraq, it will be hard to enforce the arrest warrant. Iraq’s national interests take priority, preventing the warrant from being carried out against him.”

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council Chief, Faik Zidan, announced an arrest warrant for Trump over his role in the killings of Soleimani and al-Muhandis on January 7, 2021.

An official statement confirmed the warrant was based on Article 406 of Iraq’s Penal Code and that investigations would continue to identify other individuals involved, both Iraqi and foreign.

Iraqi legal expert Ali al-Tamimi explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that the judiciary acted based on a complaint from the plaintiff, meaning it is legally required to take action against anyone, whether inside or outside Iraq.

He stated that since the crime occurred in Iraq and targeted Iraqi figures, the case falls under Iraqi jurisdiction.

Al-Tamimi confirmed that the arrest warrant for Trump was issued under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which covers premeditated murder. As Trump is considered a partner in the operation, he said the legal procedure was correct.

In response to a question about enforcing the arrest warrant, al-Tamimi said it could be done through Interpol by submitting a request via Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though this would be difficult in practice.

Another option would be for Iraq to join the 1948 Rome Statute, which allows prosecution for crimes like the assassination ordered by Trump. However, Iraq would need to first join the agreement.

Al-Tamimi also noted that, as a head of state, Trump has immunity under the Vienna Convention.