Arms embargo ‘Yemenis’ victory’

The Saudi-led military coalition combating the Houthi advance in Yemen lauded on Tuesday a UN Security Council resolution imposing an arms embargo on the Iran-backed militias. The council voted 14 in favor. Russia abstained, saying some of its proposals for the resolution, drafted by council member Jordan and Gulf Arab states, were not included. The UN measure orders a halt to any arms shipments to the rebels, and specifically mentions Houthi leader Abdul-Malek Al-Houthi and four others, including ex-President Abdullah Saleh and his son. It demands the Houthis stop fighting and withdraw from areas they have seized, including Sanaa. It also expressed concern at “destabilizing actions” taken by Saleh, “including supporting the Houthis' actions.” Operation Decisive Storm central command called upon Houthi militias to adhere to the resolution and to turn in their arms, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Assiri, a consultant at the office of the defense minister, told reporters in Riyadh. He said top Yemeni commanders who supported ousted Saleh have started going back to their units in the military. “These military commanders are now with the legitimate government. They have joined the military brigade in the Northern Border,” said Al-Assiri during his daily briefing at Riyadh Air Base. He said the Yemeni military commanders are now helping with relief operations conducted around the clock to ensure that the Yemeni people affected by the military operations get food and other supplies. He said the commanders were doing this to show they fully support the Yemeni people, and see the logic behind the 10-nation coalition’s campaign against the Houthis. He said air raids on the Houthis and their allies continue, targeting camps in Maarib. He said the coalition targeted vocational institutes on Monday because the Houthis were using schools to hide their weapons. Al-Assiri said the coalition forces have cut off the rebels’ advance as they tried to head south to the border and to northern areas. “The borders are fully secured by the coalition and they have nowhere to hide,” he said. He said life is slowly returning to normal for Yemenis in Aden because they are receiving supplies through airdrops. “We expect that the inconveniences they’re currently experiencing will be over soon,” he said. Responding to a question, he said all ships, regardless of the country of origin, would be searched for weapons and other military hardware if they enter Yemeni ports. The campaign, Al-Assiri said, has fulfilled “most” of its aims adding that Houthi and Saleh’s militias have now resorted to a defensive role in Aden. In a separate development, Iran urged the formation of a new Yemeni government and offered to assist in a political transition. In Madrid, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, proposed a plan to contain the Yemen crisis that involves restarting dialogue and enabling humanitarian aid to enter the country. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Prince Muhammad bin Salman held talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi on strengthening military cooperation and coordination. They also reviewed progress of Operation Decisive Storm against the Houthis in Yemen. Earlier Egyptian Defense Minister Gen. Sidqui Sobhi greeted Prince Mohammed on arrival at Cairo airport. Expressing his pride at the strong relations between the Saudi and Egyptian armies, the prince said Egypt is one of the major and active powers to achieve security and stability in the Middle East.   Arab News