Yemen Urges Diplomatic Missions to Resume Work in Aden

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak with European ambassadors (EU in Yemen)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak with European ambassadors (EU in Yemen)
TT

Yemen Urges Diplomatic Missions to Resume Work in Aden

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak with European ambassadors (EU in Yemen)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak with European ambassadors (EU in Yemen)

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry urged diplomatic missions to resume their work from the interim capital, Aden, pledging to provide all facilities to enhance the state's role.

Foreign diplomatic missions closed their embassies and evacuated their staff from Sanaa after the Houthi militia took control of the capital in September 2014.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak revealed that Ministry's office in Aden would resume its diplomatic and institutional activities in full force.

Bin Mubarak visited the new headquarters of the Foreign Ministry in Aden, accompanied by several European Ambassadors.

He pointed out that the resumption of work in the new building would encourage diplomatic missions to carry out their work from Aden.

The FM reaffirmed that achieving peace in Yemen under the three terms of reference comes at the top of the priorities of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government.

According to bin Mubarak, the Council and the government are working to improve public services and promote living and economic conditions despite all the challenges and humanitarian problems the country is experiencing due to the Houthi aggression.

He announced that the militias did not stop their military assault in various Yemeni regions, stressing the need to pressure Houthis and support the Presidential Council politically and economically to achieve peace.

In turn, the chief of the European Union Mission to Yemen, Gabriel Vinales, stressed the importance of renewing and expanding the UN-led truce.

Vinales reaffirmed firm support for the UN Sec-Gen Special Envoy's efforts to bring peace to Yemen.

Later, the ambassadors met Minister of Defense Lt-Gen Mohsen al-Daeri and commended the government's commitment to lasting peace. They expressed support for efforts to unify military and security formations.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
TT

US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.