Yemen Urges Support for Legitimate Govt, Ending Houthi Ties to Iran

Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Awad bin Mubarak meets with Director of the Middle East and North Africa of German Foreign Office Dr. Tobias Tunkel.
Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Awad bin Mubarak meets with Director of the Middle East and North Africa of German Foreign Office Dr. Tobias Tunkel.
TT

Yemen Urges Support for Legitimate Govt, Ending Houthi Ties to Iran

Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Awad bin Mubarak meets with Director of the Middle East and North Africa of German Foreign Office Dr. Tobias Tunkel.
Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Awad bin Mubarak meets with Director of the Middle East and North Africa of German Foreign Office Dr. Tobias Tunkel.

Yemen’s legitimate government reiterated on Friday its call on the international community to provide it with political and economic support.

Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Awad bin Mubarak met on Friday with Director of the Middle East and North Africa of German Foreign Office Dr. Tobias Tunkel to discuss the latest developments in Yemen.

They addressed the efforts to end the war "caused by the Houthi aggression against the Yemeni people," the FM was quoted as saying by the state news agency Saba.

He underscored the need to provide the suitable conditions to achieve peace and support the legitimate government.

The officials tackled Iran’s obstructive role in Yemen and "the need for the Houthi militias to end their affiliations with it so that security and stability can be restored in the country."

Tunkel stressed Germany’s support to peace efforts in Yemen, saying it "stands by the country’s unity and territorial integrity."

Meanwhile, the government intensified efforts to combat the smuggling of Iranian weapons to the Houthis.

Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik met with the central bank governor, defense minister, commander of the second military zone, customs officials and others to address the smuggling.

The PM hailed the concerned authorities on their efforts and ordered that rewards be offered to the border employees and soldiers who seized the latest smuggled shipment.

He ordered that a mechanism be put in place to encourage employees and offer rewards for busting smuggling attempts.

The gatherers announced that more measures to combat the smuggling will be introduced.



Syria’s New Authorities: Syrian People Stand at Equal Distance from All Countries

This handout image made available by the Telegram channel of the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) early on December 17, 2024 shows Ahmed al-Sharaa, receiving the director of the Middle East and North Africa department at Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)
This handout image made available by the Telegram channel of the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) early on December 17, 2024 shows Ahmed al-Sharaa, receiving the director of the Middle East and North Africa department at Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)
TT

Syria’s New Authorities: Syrian People Stand at Equal Distance from All Countries

This handout image made available by the Telegram channel of the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) early on December 17, 2024 shows Ahmed al-Sharaa, receiving the director of the Middle East and North Africa department at Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)
This handout image made available by the Telegram channel of the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) early on December 17, 2024 shows Ahmed al-Sharaa, receiving the director of the Middle East and North Africa department at Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in Damascus. (Photo by SANA / AFP)

Syria wants to contribute to "regional peace,” the country's new authorities said in a statement after a meeting between leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and a US diplomatic delegation.

"The Syrian side indicated that the Syrian people stand at an equal distance from all countries and parties in the region and that Syria rejects any polarization," the statement said.

In their first in-person meeting with the leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham since it overthrew Syria's long-time President Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago, al-Sharaa "came across as pragmatic,” Barbara Leaf, top Middle East diplomat at the State Department, told reporters.

"It was a good first meeting. We will judge by the deeds, not just by words," Leaf, who was the head of the US delegation, said in a briefing and added that the US officials reiterated that Syria's new government should be inclusive. It should also ensure that terrorist groups cannot pose a threat, she said.