Latest news with #Al-Alimi
Saudi Gazette
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Yemen President hails Saudi decision to extend Masam project
Saudi Gazette report ADEN—Yemen Presidential Leadership Council President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi praised Saudi Arabia's decision to extend the Masam Project contract for landmine clearance in Yemen. In a statement broadcast by the official Yemeni News Agency Saba, President Al-Alimi praised the program's leadership and team, as well as all institutions in Saudi Arabia and their humanitarian, service, and development contributions in various fields. "This great humanitarian effort by the Kingdom through the Masam project, which has so far removed approximately 500,000 mines and various shells, embodies a noble fraternal commitment to Yemen and its people, and contributes to alleviating the ravages of war,' Al-Alimi said.
Al Mawqea Post
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Mawqea Post
Three important meetings in Riyadh within a week
reports that Riyadh hosted three pivotal political gatherings this week: Saudi Consultations: The first session brought together the Saudi ambassador, the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission, and key Yemeni party leaders. Presidential Council Briefing: In the second, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, met with the same delegation. National Alliance Talks: The final meeting paired Al-Alimi with representatives from the National Alliance bloc. Key insights from Shalfi's Yemeni sources: 1 Growing popular demand urges a decisive end to Houthi rule—spurred by recent events in Lebanon and Syria—yet neither Yemeni leaders nor their external backers have committed to a clear course of action. 2 Riyadh signaled it won't back or join a ground offensive under current regional and global conditions, while also warning Yemeni factions to overcome their internal splits and restore unified military and political coordination. 3 Al-Alimi attended alone, underscoring deep fractures within the Presidential Council that hinder regular meetings and collective decision-making. 4 Rumors of impending action on Yemen's western coast and around Hudaydah were addressed, with Al-Alimi insisting any deployment must be a joint effort, not a single-front initiative. 5 Several attendees noted Donald Trump's planned May 13 regional trip—which could tip the balance toward either escalation or de-escalation in Yemen. 6 Discussions revealed significant cracks in Yemen's military and political coalitions, a major barrier to launching any broad, unified assault on the Houthis. 7 Despite official denials, reports of a UAE-backed ground push via prompted Saudi worries about Abu Dhabi carving out its own territorial influence along the western coast. 8 Saudi Arabia remains unwilling to entertain offensive plans until its territory is fully shielded from Houthi missiles and drones—a stance rooted in past experiences and stringent security calculations. 9 Proposed government changes, including replacing the prime minister, were also on the agenda—but no action was taken amid the prevailing political, military, and regional uncertainties.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Yemen: Al-Alimi Says Military Ready for Decisive Battle
Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief Rashad al-Alimi said there are promising signs of a shift in the balance of power in the country's long-running conflict, citing growing unity among anti-Houthi factions. Al-Alimi praised what he described as 'broad national alignment,' highlighting the readiness of the armed forces, security units, and all military formations to wage what he called 'a battle for salvation' against the Iran-aligned Houthi group. He said the emerging consensus among Yemen's diverse political and military components to confront a common enemy was a key development on the ground. Al-Alimi met late Tuesday with the head of the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission, his deputies, and senior figures from political parties and factions represented in the body, as efforts to unify anti-Houthi forces continue. The meeting came amid ongoing US airstrikes targeting Houthi positions across several provinces, including the capital Sanaa, as well as Saada, Hajjah, and Hodeidah. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has acknowledged that the group has been hit by over 1,000 air and naval strikes since the campaign began. US President Donald Trump launched the military campaign against the Houthis on March 15, vowing to use 'deadly force' to eliminate the group, which Washington accuses of threatening maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and launching attacks against Israel. The meeting attended by al-Alimi focused on the necessary actions to transform the trajectory of Yemen's pivotal battle, aiming to end the humanitarian suffering exacerbated by Houthi militia attacks on oil facilities and commercial shipping vessels. Al-Alimi highlighted a significant positive shift in the international community's stance, which he attributed to a united effort in countering misleading narratives about Yemen's crisis. He emphasized the government's role as a close partner to the international community, while exposing the Houthis not as a peace project, but as a constant threat to global security, according to the official Saba News Agency. 'We have presented the Yemeni people's vision and aspirations in the best possible light, promoting a discourse focused on security, peace, development, equality, and active partnership with the international community,' al-Alimi said. 'Today, we see promising elements that could shift the balance of power on the ground, with the key being the unity of all national components in their shared goal and common enemy,' he added. The PLC chief expressed his gratitude for the critical support provided by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting their economic, developmental, and humanitarian contributions as vital to the Yemeni state's continued fulfillment of its obligations. Al-Alimi also commended the efforts of Yemen's security forces in countering Houthi militia attempts to destabilize the internal front, accusing the group of colluding with terrorist organizations in its reckless plans.
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Alimi Calls for Collective Global Approach to Support Yemen's Security, Economy
Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi hoped for a broader partnership with the United States to address the challenges facing his country. He called for a collective global approach to support Yemen on humanitarian, economic, and security fronts. Al-Alimi received in Riyadh US Ambassador to Yemen, Steven Fagin, just days after the designation of the Iran-backed Houthi militias as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' took effect and new US sanctions were imposed on seven of its senior leaders, including its spokesperson and de facto foreign minister, Mohammed Abdul Salam. According to official Yemeni media, the meeting, attended by Council member Othman Mujalli, focused on Yemeni-American relations and their future prospects, as well as ways to boost cooperation at various levels. Al-Alimi stressed the urgent need for a global collective approach to support the legitimate Yemeni government in addressing economic, service-related, and humanitarian challenges. He also emphasized strengthening the country's capacity to combat terrorism and organized crime, and to secure its territorial waters, positioning Yemen as a key partner in safeguarding international peace and security. The Yemeni leader reaffirmed his commitment to expanding cooperation with the United States to confront regional threats and challenges. He welcomed the US administration's decision to reclassify the Houthis as terrorist and pledged Yemen's full cooperation with the international community to implement the designation while minimizing any potential humanitarian impact on vulnerable groups. While the full extent of the designation's impact on the Houthis remains uncertain, there have been growing international calls to ensure that civilians and the private sector in Houthi-controlled areas are not adversely affected and that humanitarian operations led by UN agencies remain uninterrupted. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, in his latest briefing to the UN Security Council, warned of escalating tensions and the risk of a return to war, particularly as the Houthis continue their military offensives in Marib, Al-Jawf, and Taiz. According to Yemeni reports, the past few weeks have witnessed intensified Houthi attacks in Marib and clashes with government forces, as the militias deploy more fighters to frontlines in the oil-rich province. Grundberg called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid measures that could drag Yemen back into a full-scale war, where civilians would once again bear the brunt of the conflict.
Saudi Gazette
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
President Al-Alimi hails Saudi Arabia's exceptional relationship with Yemen and unwavering support
Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Yemeni President Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi expressed profound appreciation for Saudi Arabia's unwavering support for Yemen, emphasizing that without this aid, the Yemeni government would have struggled to fulfill its basic obligations, including paying salaries. 'Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is truly exceptional, with deep-rooted security, social, and economic dimensions that cannot be compared to any other bilateral relationship,' he said while speaking to Okaz. Al-Alimi commended the Kingdom's humanitarian and development initiatives through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen. He also praised Project Masam for its critical role in clearing landmines planted by the Houthis across the country. Al-Alimi has described the terrorist designation of the Houthi militia by the United States as the best peaceful option to deter the practices of this rogue group, which has consistently rejected all diplomatic efforts to end the suffering of the Yemeni people. Expressing his hope that the terrorist militia would fully grasp this firm message, Al-Alimi urged the Houthis to prioritize the interests of the Yemeni people over those of their foreign backers and to embrace a comprehensive peace solution based on national, regional, and international references. 'For the Yemeni government and our brothers in the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, the decision to classify the Houthis as a terrorist group was made long ago. Now that this designation has been reinstated, we will focus on mitigating its humanitarian impact on the Yemeni people, ensuring continued humanitarian aid, trade activities, and the flow of remittances from Yemeni expatriates worldwide,' he said. Al-Alimi pointed out that when the U.S. administration previously revoked the terrorist designation, the Houthis misinterpreted this move as a sign of weakness. This emboldened them to prolong the war, escalate their terrorist attacks on oil facilities, civilian infrastructure, and international shipping routes, thereby deepening the humanitarian crises in Yemen and the region. ### Houthis responded peace initiatives with escalation President Al-Alimi emphasized that the Presidential Leadership Council and the government have welcomed every peace initiative, including the truce accepted in April 2022. Despite the Houthis' repeated military violations and gross human rights abuses, the government has upheld the truce to safeguard the interests of the Yemeni people. However, in response to these peace efforts, the Houthis launched attacks on oil export ports in Hadramout and Shabwa provinces, targeted international shipping lanes, and deprived Yemenis of essential revenues needed to pay salaries and provide basic services. These actions have worsened the humanitarian crisis and led to an unprecedented depreciation of the national currency. He further explained that, in response to international calls for de-escalation, the Yemeni government froze its decision to relocate the central bank headquarters from Houthi-controlled Sana'a to the temporary capital, Aden. This was intended to facilitate meaningful economic discussions and revive peace efforts in line with Saudi Arabia's proposed roadmap. However, the Houthis responded with further escalations—hijacking three Yemenia Airways planes, attacking the Safer oil facility in Marib, kidnapping humanitarian workers, activists, and journalists, and enacting racist laws to monopolize public sector employment for their loyalists. ### Houthi war kills half a million Yemenis Al-Alimi highlighted that after more than two decades of rebellion and armed coups against national agreements, the international community must adopt firm policies to deter the Houthis and push them towards peace under national, regional, and international resolutions —particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2216. 'The war ignited by the Houthis has claimed over 500,000 Yemeni lives, pushed more than 20 million into hunger, and displaced millions—both internally and abroad—under dire conditions,' he said. 'Without international sanctions and measures to cut off their sources of funding and weapons, the Houthis will not seriously engage in efforts to achieve comprehensive and just peace. Instead, they will continue their extortion tactics against the regional and international communities.' Al-Alimi acknowledged global concerns regarding the potential humanitarian impact of forceful measures against the Houthis. However, he stressed that if the world continues to fear that military action and terrorist designation might obstruct fragile de-escalation efforts, then it must find equally effective alternatives for deterrence. 'The best solution is for the international community to support the legitimate government in reclaiming full sovereignty over Yemen's territory,' he asserted. ### Houthis claim 'divine right' to rule Reiterating that peace remains a strategic priority for the Presidential Leadership Council and the government, Al-Alimi noted that peace can only be achieved with a serious and responsible partner. He warned against recognizing any armed faction that challenges state authority and disregards national laws and international treaties. 'The Houthis do not oppose peace out of concern for national sovereignty, as they claim. Rather, they seek to secure a position above the state for their leaders, who believe they have a divine right to rule. The Yemeni people will never accept this, no matter the sacrifices required,' he said. Al-Alimi emphasized that the most viable path to peace is by supporting the legitimate government in strengthening the economy, providing essential services, and protecting Yemen's territorial waters. ### Abuse of UN employees as hostages Al-Alimi denounced the Houthis' widespread human rights violations in areas under their control, particularly their abductions of international staff members. He warned that despite attempts by Houthi political factions to deceive the international community, their extremist tactics remain unchanged. 'These militias will continue their arrests, abuses, and threats to maritime security because this is their way of life,' he said. He criticized the UN for failing to relocate its offices from Sana'a to Aden, arguing that this inaction has inadvertently enabled the Houthis to use UN staff and resources as hostages for political leverage. ### Emergence of a stronger national alliance against Houthis On the achievements of the Presidential Leadership Council and allied forces, Al-Alimi said that the national alliance against the Houthis has grown stronger and more influential regionally and internationally. 'When the Presidential Leadership Council was formed on April 7, 2022, with the support of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy led by Saudi Arabia, its primary goal was to unify national factions and strengthen their role in both peace and war efforts,' he explained. Al-Alimi highlighted that the council recently adopted a comprehensive strategy covering political, economic, and military aspects, and that was made possible through collective responsibility and commitment to partnership. ### Houthi attacks exacerbate economic grievances Acknowledging the economic hardships and protests in liberated provinces, Al-Alimi assured that the council understands the legitimate grievances arising from financial challenges, exacerbated by Houthi attacks on oil infrastructure. 'The Houthis believe that their economic warfare will cripple the government's ability to provide services and pay salaries, creating an artificial equivalency between liberated areas and Houthi-controlled regions where salaries have been suspended for eight years. This strategy will fail as before,' he affirmed. Regarding Hadramout, he outlined a plan to address local demands through an executive framework developed in collaboration with the government and local authorities. 'Hadramout has long been a model of stability and development. The Presidential Leadership Council and the government will spare no effort in ensuring its rightful place in the national framework.'
