Head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Discusses Joint Coordination with UK Minister to Counter Houthi Threats

Aden, January 11 (KUNA) -- Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi held talks today, Sunday, with British Minister of State for the Middle East Stephen Doughty on bilateral relations and joint coordination to confront threats posed by the Houthi militia, as well as ongoing arrangements for holding an international conference to support Yemen.

The state-run Yemeni News Agency (Saba) reported that during the meeting, Al-Alimi emphasized the importance of the United Kingdom’s role in rallying international support to designate the Houthi militias as a terrorist organization and to take necessary measures to ban them under British law. According to the agency, Al-Alimi expressed his appreciation for British positions supporting the Yemeni people and its political leadership, as well as for the economic and humanitarian aid provided to Yemen and London’s role as the lead country on Yemen at the UN Security Council.

He stressed that protecting international navigation requires ending Houthi threats and supporting the Yemeni state’s efforts to safeguard its territory and territorial waters. He pointed to Houthi escalation, including attacks on the civilian airports in Aden and Rayyan, assaults on Taiz Governorate and its residents, sieges, and shelling of densely populated neighborhoods, civilian facilities, markets, schools, and homes. He also cited Houthi attacks on civilian targets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and threats to waterways and international navigation.

Al-Alimi highlighted Houthi human rights violations, including the recent death of a staff member of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights while detained by the militia, the continued arbitrary detention of more than 70 UN staff members, and the undermining of initiatives aimed at alleviating humanitarian suffering. He stressed the importance of taking effective measures to disrupt financing, arms supply, and smuggling networks, tightening controls on the flow of dual-use components and technologies to the militia, and supporting the Yemeni government in extending its authority over the entire country.

He praised Saudi support for Yemen and its response to humanitarian needs in Taiz Governorate and other governorates through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen.

For his part, the British minister affirmed his country’s supportive stance toward the Yemeni people and its political leadership, reiterating continued support in political, security, economic, and humanitarian fields, and backing efforts by the government to enhance security and stability and to fulfill its obligations toward citizens. Doughty briefed Al-Alimi on increased British support to address the repercussions of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and reviewed preparations for the international conference on supporting Yemen scheduled for the end of the month, as well as efforts to ensure its success in strengthening responses to the country’s economic and humanitarian needs. (End) S.N.S./M.A.H.A.