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Yemen Says May Resort to ‘Difficult Choices’ to Make Houthis Accept Peace 

UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded on Wednesday a trip to Oman. (Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen on Twitter)
UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded on Wednesday a trip to Oman. (Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen on Twitter)
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Yemen Says May Resort to ‘Difficult Choices’ to Make Houthis Accept Peace 

UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded on Wednesday a trip to Oman. (Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen on Twitter)
UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded on Wednesday a trip to Oman. (Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen on Twitter)

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council reiterated on Wednesday its commitment to just peace according to the three references. 

It stressed, however, that it may resort to “difficult choices” to force the Iran-backed Houthi militias to restore calm and end the state of “neither war, nor peace.” 

Members of the PLC held various meetings with western ambassadors as part of efforts to revive peace efforts in Yemen that have stumbled because of Houthi intransigence. 

Yemeni sources have expressed concern that the intense diplomatic efforts may be attempts to extract new concessions from the legitimate government. 

PLC member Aidroos al-Zubaidi met with UK Ambassador to Yemen Richard Oppenheim in Riyadh for talks on the latest political, military and humanitarian developments. 

They tackled UN envoy Hans Grundberg’s efforts to restore the nationwide truce, as well as regional and international efforts to establish peace amid the constant Houthi escalation on the ground and their rejection of peace initiatives. 

Real peace begins when the lives of people are saved and when oil facilities are protected against Houthi attacks, Zubaidi said. 

He urged Britain to play a greater role in garnering economic support to Yemen and seeking all means to protect economic installations so that the PLC and legitimate government can resume the production and export of oil. 

Zubaidi had met on Tuesday with French Ambassador Jean-Marie Safa. 

PLC member Abdulrahman al-Mahrami, meanwhile, met with US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin to discuss the latest developments in Yemen and regional and international peace efforts. 

Grunberg is set to present a briefing before the UN Security Council next week. 

On Wednesday, he concluded a visit to the Omani capital Muscat where he met with Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and senior officials.  

“The sides discussed developments in Yemen and regional and international efforts to renew the truce and work toward a political settlement,” tweeted the envoy’s office. 

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Arab World

Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).

Discussions are underway on the role of the Lebanese army in maintaining security in South Lebanon amid rising optimism about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701

As part of these preparations, the Lebanese government has begun strengthening the army by recruiting 1,500 new soldiers out of the 6,000 needed, aligning with the outcomes of the Paris Conference held on October 23, which allocated 200 million euros to support the military institution, from a broader package intended to help the Lebanese people during the Israel-Hezbollah war.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, a security official highlighted that the army currently has 4,500 personnel stationed south of the Litani River but requires additional manpower.

The unidentified official noted, however, that any effective deployment would require a political decision and government support. “The Lebanese military will implement Resolution 1701 as is, with no intention of clashing with any party. However, if Israel violates Lebanese sovereignty, the army is fully prepared to respond,” he said.

Although Hezbollah opposes withdrawing from south of the Litani and handing over border security duties to the Lebanese military and UNIFIL, claiming the army lacks the capabilities to defend against Israeli aggression, the security source clarified that the military has been authorized to repel any attacks but will avoid initiating conflict. The army’s expanded deployment depends on a political decision, which, once made, will see the military act without hesitation to uphold Lebanese sovereignty.

While military preparedness is essential, Brigadier General Wehbeh Qatisha argues that Lebanon’s security requires more than just troops or advanced weaponry at the border. The presence of the Lebanese military as a representative of the Lebanese state is also a significant deterrent. He pointed out that prior to 1970, Israel refrained from attacking Lebanon, despite a much smaller army. However, he cautioned that even with a substantial deployment today, the persistence of Hezbollah’s military presence would continue to undermine Lebanon’s stability and security.

Since the 1969 Cairo Agreement, which allowed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to launch operations against Israel from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army has been restricted in its ability to enforce security along the border. After the PLO’s departure in 1982, Hezbollah took over military operations in the South. Even after the 2006 war and the adoption of Resolution 1701, which called for the Lebanese military and UNIFIL to secure the border, Hezbollah retained its armed presence and continued to conduct exercises simulating conflict with Israel. The latter violated the international resolution thousands of times, until the last war broke out against the background of turning southern Lebanon into a front supporting Gaza.

Qatisha emphasized that the path to stability lies in comprehensive implementation of international resolutions, particularly 1701 and 1559, and restricting arms to the Lebanese army. He argued that achieving balanced deterrence requires not only military force but also a commitment to diplomacy and international support.