Tariq Saleh Warns: War is an Option if Houthis Wasted Peace Opportunities

The commander of the National Resistance Forces, and member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Brigadier General Tariq Saleh (Saba)
The commander of the National Resistance Forces, and member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Brigadier General Tariq Saleh (Saba)
TT

Tariq Saleh Warns: War is an Option if Houthis Wasted Peace Opportunities

The commander of the National Resistance Forces, and member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Brigadier General Tariq Saleh (Saba)
The commander of the National Resistance Forces, and member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Brigadier General Tariq Saleh (Saba)

The commander of the National Resistance Forces and member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Brigadier General Tariq Saleh, warned that war would be an option if the Houthi militias continued to waste peace opportunities.

The Council, led by Rashad al-Alimi, seeks to give an opportunity to international and regional efforts to launch a comprehensive negotiated political process that leads to ending the coup.

Yemeni official sources reported that Saleh, the son of former president Ali Abdallah Saleh, inspected several training camps of the Republican Guard Brigades and military sites on the front lines on the western coast.

Saba news agency reported that Saleh stressed that Yemenis' primary goals are to restore state institutions and the capital, achieve a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, protect the republic's values, and preserve the rights of the people.

He indicated that this state of "neither peace nor war" must end and would not continue indefinitely, adding that the Yemeni people would ensure the restoration of the state.

The official asserted that Houthi violations and crimes against civilians would not be tolerated and would be met firmly, reiterating that any peaceful solution through international efforts must first preserve the sacrifices of the Yemeni people and guarantee their right to govern themselves.

He warned that any proposed solutions outside the scope of maintaining the peoples' rights would not be accepted under any justification.

Saleh stressed that security units carefully monitor all hostile Houthi movements in the Red Sea, threatening global navigation security.

He lauded the tremendous efforts of the coalition that supports legitimacy led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to support the Yemeni people.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Defense, Lt. Gen. Mohsen Mohammed al-Daeri, received a British military delegation in Aden and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism and smuggling.

Official sources noted that Daeri referred to the continuous Iranian smuggling of weapons to the Houthi militia, saying it clearly indicated that the group aimed to exploit the ceasefire and rejected international efforts to establish peace.

He noted that the Houthi group cooperates al-Qaeda and ISIS, referring to the exchange deal that released detainees between the three groups.

The Minister urged the international community to exert real pressure on the Houthi militia to submit to peace according to the three terms of reference for peace represented by the Gulf initiative, its executive mechanism, outcomes of the national dialogue, and relevant UN resolutions, mainly resolution 2216.



ISIS Flag Raised in Kirkuk Village

Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
TT

ISIS Flag Raised in Kirkuk Village

Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk

Iraqi security forces on Friday encircled a village in Kirkuk province, located 250 kilometers north of Baghdad, after an ISIS flag was raised there.

The move comes amid statements from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein about the resurgence of the terrorist group, which he said is reorganizing following the collapse of ISIS's Syrian stronghold.

In a phone conversation with UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, Hussein warned that ISIS is rebuilding its strength, having seized significant weaponry left behind by the Syrian military’s collapse. This has allowed the group to expand its control in the region.

Hussein also raised alarms about the potential fallout from ISIS members escaping prisons and the situation at the Al-Hol camp, which holds the families of ISIS fighters in northeastern Syria, warning it could destabilize security in both Syria and Iraq.

He stressed the need for a political process in Syria that includes all components of society, and highlighted the importance of sustained international aid to the Syrian people.

Falconer expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the Aqaba meetings, which included British participation, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue to monitor developments in Syria.

He also voiced concerns over the potential for armed clashes between ISIS remnants and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stressing that Syria cannot afford more internal conflict.

ISIS Flag in Kirkuk

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Baghdad has presented a plan for Syria following the recent shifts in the region and remains prepared for all possibilities. On Friday, Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk. The village, located in the Daqouq district south of Kirkuk, is believed to harbor ISIS remnants.

An Iraqi security source confirmed that the forces had surrounded the village of Khalid in Daqouq and launched a search operation for the perpetrators. Last week, a similar incident occurred in the Hawija district of Kirkuk.

Iraqi-Jordanian Coordination

Sudani also reiterated Iraq’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and expressed readiness to support a comprehensive political process in the country without intervening in its internal affairs. In an interview with Iraqiya TV, Sudani stated that Iraq is concerned about the situation in Syria, particularly regarding the presence of armed groups and ISIS elements. He confirmed that joint operations with Jordan and the US-led coalition have already begun.

The Prime Minister called on Syria’s new leadership to ensure respect for the country’s diverse components and avoid excluding any group. He emphasized that Iraq, as a key member of the anti-ISIS coalition, remains committed to confronting any terrorist threat at its borders.

Sudani assured that Iraq faces no external threats or demands and is pursuing responsible dialogue based on mutual respect, shared interests, and securing its borders, which are now better fortified than ever.

The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has raised concerns over the fate of approximately 50,000 former ISIS fighters detained in camps in northern Syria. With the region in chaos, there are growing fears of these detention centers being breached, potentially paving the way for the group’s resurgence.