World must do more against ‘Houthi oppression’: Yemeni leader

Special World must do more against ‘Houthi oppression’: Yemeni leader
President of Yemen Rashad Al-Alimi addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at UN headquarters, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo)
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Updated 26 September 2024
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World must do more against ‘Houthi oppression’: Yemeni leader

World must do more against ‘Houthi oppression’: Yemeni leader
  • Rashad Al-Alimi: ‘Leniency with the enemies of peace leads to the most heinous wars’
  • He thanks Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and Oman, for their mediation efforts

LONDON: The chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council on Thursday urged the international community to do more to counter Houthi activities hampering international shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on the 62nd anniversary of Yemen’s independence, Rashad Al-Alimi hailed “the courage of those young men and women and opinion leaders who challenge every year … the Houthi oppression machine supported by the Iranian regime.”

He urged world leaders to help Yemen with a “collective approach” in order to “reinforce its institutional capabilities to protect its territorial waters, and to secure all of its national territory.”

Yemen has endured a brutal civil war for over a decade, with the Houthis controlling great swathes of the country including the capital Sanaa.

The militia says its attacks on shipping passing through the region are in response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Al-Alimi said his government is “committed to a comprehensive peace,” but this would only be possible if “international resolutions prohibiting the flow of Iranian weapons and drying up the funding sources (of) these militias” are enforced.

“History teaches us that leniency with the enemies of peace leads to the most heinous wars, to the most complex and costly ones,” he warned.

The Houthis have caused severe damage to Yemen’s economy due to its attacks on oil infrastructure, “depriving the Yemeni people of the needed revenues to pay salaries and basic services, which exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and led to an unprecedented devaluation of our national currency,” he added.

Al-Alimi thanked other Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and Oman, for their efforts in trying to mediate between the Yemeni government, based in the temporary capital Aden, and the Houthis, but said the militia has continued its operations.

He expressed concern that the Houthis would take “more oppressive measures against public freedoms” in the coming months, citing crackdowns on Yemen’s judiciary and the forced disappearances of “thousands of innocent men, women, children, (and the) elderly.”

He also noted the arrest by the Houthis of at least 13 UN aid workers since May, as well as dozens of other NGO and charity workers in Yemen, criticizing the UN for not moving its operations out of Houthi-controlled territory.

“There’s a widespread belief that the UN is responsible for giving these militias the opportunity to kidnap this unprecedented number of relief workers and NGO staff, as well as activists and civil society leaders, by not heeding the call of the Yemeni government to transfer their headquarters from Sanaa to the temporary capital Aden,” Al-Alimi said.

“The UN unintentionally enabled these terrorists to take their personnel as hostages, and to use them as a bargaining chip to blackmail the international community and to achieve negotiation concessions that can’t be accepted under any circumstances,” he added.

“This ongoing pattern of reckless escalation and response to the de-escalation initiatives requires the international community to take firm policies and push these militias towards the choice of peace.”

Al-Alimi stressed that the Houthis are waging an “economic war” by attacking oil tankers, facilities and other shipping vessels, which not only harms the Yemeni people but the wider region.

“The international community should seriously consider the devastating effects of these terrorist acts and to provide the vital infrastructure to defend maritime transportation vessels in Yemeni ports, to support the right of the Yemenis and of the Yemeni government to benefit from their resources and improve their living conditions,” he said.

“Protecting the arteries of the economy is necessary not only to recover and rebuild our future, but it’s important also for the stability of the region and for the security of energy in the long term.

“Therefore, we reiterate our hope for the international community to provide immediate, comprehensive support to address the devastating humanitarian conditions, to lay the foundations for a long-term economic recovery.

“This should include not only immediate humanitarian assistance to alleviate suffering, but should also include accountability mechanisms, especially in the regions under Houthi control. 

“It also requires greater investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and sustainable development. It requires building the national capacities to curb the impact of climate change, which has left hundreds of victims and displaced thousands within the last two months.

“Yemen’s recovery is not only a national matter, it’s a regional and international need. The stability of Yemen is decisive to safeguard peace and stability in the region and trade routes in the Arabian and Red seas, as well as surrounding waterways, including the Suez Canal.”

Al-Alimi said Israel’s war in Gaza needs to be brought to an end if the region is to stabilize and prosper.

“The brutal Israeli war on the Palestinian people should cease immediately,” he said. “This is the first step to achieve peace and to eliminate Iran’s proxies, which are escalating the situation in the region. 

“Iran has been manipulating the just Palestinian cause, and this didn’t come from a vacuum, (but) from a history of blackmailing and of propaganda, only leading to undermining the peace process and reversing the gains of the Palestinian people and their right to establish a fully sovereign state,” he added.

“Ending the plight of the Palestinian people should be based on implementing international resolutions, especially the Arab Peace Initiative.

“And as is the case for both Yemen and Palestine, the only way to deter the wanton Israeli aggression on Lebanon will be through a firm stance from the international community and through the unity of all the Lebanese.”

Al-Alimi concluded by praising the work of certain key regional states, especially Saudi Arabia, in forging economic and social progress and curbing the spread of extremism.

“The Arab region is facing today a challenging test in building the state and in joining civilizational progress,” he said.

“The road to peace goes through the forces of moderation in the region, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has been defending international resolutions and which extended a helping hand by hosting millions of those fleeing wars and armed conflicts.

“Therefore, we’re grateful for its measures, and the world should depend on them to lay the foundations of peace and stability, and to maximize our benefit from their economic and social development.”


Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25

Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25
Updated 23 February 2025
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Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25

Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25

DAMASCUS: Syria’s new authorities will hold a national dialogue conference starting on February 25 to discuss a new path for the nation after the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December, two members of its preparatory committee said on Sunday.
Foreign capitals will be closely watching the conference as part of a political process in Syria that they say needs to be inclusive of its ethnically diverse and multi-religious population as they consider suspending sanctions on the country.
Holding the conference has been a key pledge of former Al Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) which took control of Damascus on December 8 in a stunning offensive that prompted then-president Assad to flee to Russia, ending more than 50 years of his family’s autocratic rule.
The preparatory committee’s seven members consulted with some 4,000 people across Syria over the last week to gather views that would help shape a constitutional declaration, a new economic framework and a plan for institutional reform, the committee told reporters on Sunday.
HTS-appointed President Ahmed Sharaa has said the conference was part of an inclusive political process to draft a constitution, which he said could take up to three years, and then hold elections, which he said could take four years.
The conference is scheduled for two days but could be extended if necessary, committee member Hassan Dugheim said, and a new government expected to be formed next month would also benefit from the conference’s recommendations.


Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources

Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources
Updated 23 February 2025
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Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources

Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources
  • Sergei Lavrov will hold talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan
  • Turkiye wants to play a leading role in bringing an end to Russia-Ukraine hostilities

ISTANBUL: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Turkiye on Monday, which marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Turkish diplomatic sources said Sunday.
Lavrov will hold talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the source said, adding that the men will discuss the war in Ukraine, among other things.
Turkiye, a member of NATO, wants to play a leading role in bringing an end to hostilities, as it tried to do in March 2022 by twice hosting direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
Receiving his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted that his country would be an “ideal host” for talks on Ukraine involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington.
Moscow and Washington have already begun a direct dialogue in recent weeks, against a backdrop of rapprochement between US President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Russian and American officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin rebuilding their relations, a meeting denounced by Zelensky, who fears an agreement on Ukraine reached without him at the table.
Lavrov, who last visited Turkiye in October, is also expected to visit Russian ally Iran.


Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations

Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations
Updated 23 February 2025
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Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations

Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations
  • Israeli says waiting to deliver Palestinian prisoners "until release of next hostages has been assured"
  • Hamas has made hostages appear on stage, sometimes speak before handing them over to Israel 

DUBAI: Hamas on Sunday condemned Israel’s decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostages’ handover ceremonies are “humiliating” was false and a pretext to evade Israel’s obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Netanyahu’s decision reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation’s lack of reliability in implementing its obligations,” Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement.

Israel said earlier it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free the day before until Hamas met its conditions, underscoring the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire accord.

Netanyahu’s office released a statement in the early hours of Sunday saying that Israel was waiting to deliver the 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”

Hamas’ El Rashq said the ceremonies do not include any insult to the hostages, “but rather reflect the humane and dignified treatment of them,” adding that the “real insult” is what the Palestinian prisoners are subjected to during the release process.

The Palestinian militant group official cited the hands’ tying of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees and their blindfolding and threatening them not to hold any celebrations for their release as examples of their humiliation at the hands of Israeli authorities.

Hamas has made hostages appear on stage in front of crowds and sometimes speak before they were handed over. Coffins with hostage remains have also been carried through crowds.

Israel’s announcement, which also accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the month-old ceasefire, came after the Palestinian militant group on Saturday handed over six hostages from Gaza as part of an exchange arranged under the truce.

The six hostages freed on Saturday were the last living Israeli captives due to be handed over during the first phase of the ceasefire. The bodies of four dead Israeli hostages were to be released next week.

 

 


Israel army says deploying tank division in West Bank city of Jenin

Israel army says deploying tank division in West Bank city of Jenin
Updated 23 February 2025
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Israel army says deploying tank division in West Bank city of Jenin

Israel army says deploying tank division in West Bank city of Jenin
  • Israel’s army on Sunday announced the expansion of operations in the occupied West Bank including the deployment of a tank division in the city of Jenin

JERUSALEM: Israel’s army on Sunday announced the expansion of operations in the occupied West Bank including the deployment of a tank division in the city of Jenin, the first time tanks have operated in the Palestinian territory since the end of the second intifada, or uprising, in 2005.
“IDF (military), Shin Bet (security agency), and border police forces continue their counterterrorism operation in northern Samaria (West Bank) and are expanding offensive activities in the area,” a military statement said, adding that “a tank division will operate in Jenin as part of the offensive effort.”


Sudan’s RSF, allies sign charter for rival government: sources

Sudan’s RSF, allies sign charter for rival government: sources
Updated 23 February 2025
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Sudan’s RSF, allies sign charter for rival government: sources

Sudan’s RSF, allies sign charter for rival government: sources
  • Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and a coalition of political and armed groups have signed a founding charter to establish a parallel government in the war-ravaged country

NAIROBI: Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and a coalition of political and armed groups have signed a founding charter to establish a parallel government in the war-ravaged country, sources said Sunday.
“It’s done,” a source close to the organizers of the signing ceremony, which took place overnight in Nairobi, told AFP.
The signatories said the charter paves the way for a “government of peace and unity” in rebel-controlled areas of Sudan.
The move comes nearly two years into a devastating war with the regular army that has uprooted more than 12 million people and caused what the United Nations calls the world’s worst hunger and displacement crises.
The signing, delayed multiple times, took place behind closed doors in the Kenyan capital.
Among those who signed was a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, which controls parts of the southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
Abdel Rahim Dagalo, deputy and brother of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — who was notably absent — also signed.
The charter, seen by AFP, calls for “a secular, democratic, decentralized state based on freedom, equality, and justice, without bias toward any cultural, ethnic, religious, or regional identity.”
It also outlines plans for a “new, unified, professional, national army” with a new military doctrine that “reflects the diversity and plurality characterising the Sudanese state.”
The proposed government, according to the charter, aims to end the war, ensure unhindered humanitarian aid and integrate armed groups into a single, national force.
The war between the RSF and the army, triggered by disputes over integrating the paramilitary force into the regular military, has killed tens of thousands with both warring parties accused of war crimes.
The conflict has torn the country in two, with the army in control of the north and east, while the RSF holds nearly all of the western region of Darfur and swathes of the south.