LONDON: UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said Thursday that the “full, peaceful, and unconditional withdrawal” of Houthi militia from the city of Hodeidah and its port is the only way to ensure that the situation in the city and its surroundings does not deteriorate.
Gargash added that Houthi militias are “blocking off-loading of aid at Hodeida port,” destroying water and sewage systems, and indiscriminately placing mines, IEDs, snipers and heavy weaponry in residential areas.
Most humanitarian aid to Yemen comes through Hodeidah port, but it is also a conduit for the supply of weapons and ammunition from Iran to the Houthi militias, including missiles used to target Saudi Arabia.
Gargash tweeted his comments a day after the Saudi-led coalition fully recaptured Hodeidah airport, and added that the UN, international aid groups, and the media are all reporting that Houthi militias are “purposefully and deliberately” seeking to manufacture a humanitarian crisis and worsen conditions in Hodeidah and its port.
The minister of state for foreign affairs also said that the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis would not allow the militias to “divert us from our strategic goals.”
‘Full, peaceful, and unconditional withdrawal’ could spare Houthis in Hodeidah: UAE’s Gargash
‘Full, peaceful, and unconditional withdrawal’ could spare Houthis in Hodeidah: UAE’s Gargash
- Gargash said that the UN, international aid groups, and the media are all reporting that Houthi militias are “purposefully and deliberately” seeking to manufacture a humanitarian crisis in Hodeidah.
- Gargash added that Houthi militias are blocking off-loading of aid at Hodeida port.
Iran says students have right to protest but must know ‘red lines’
- University students in Iran started a new semester Saturday with pro- and anti-government rallies, according to local media
Tehran: University students have the right to protest but everyone must “understand the red lines,” the Iranian government’s spokeswoman said Tuesday, in the first official reaction to renewed rallies on campuses since the weekend.
“Sacred things and the flag are two examples of these red lines that we must protect and not cross or deviate from, even at the height of anger,” Fatemeh MoHajjerani said.
She said Iran’s students “have wounds in their hearts and have seen scenes that may upset and anger them; this anger is understandable.”
University students in Iran started a new semester Saturday with pro- and anti-government rallies, according to local media, reviving slogans from nationwide demonstrations that peaked in January and led to thousands of deaths.
Protests first began in December sparked by economic woes in the sanctions-hit country, but grew into nationwide demonstrations on January 8 and 9.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded more than 7,000 deaths, while warning the full toll is likely far higher.
Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” fueled by the United States and Israel.
MoHajjerani on Tuesday said a fact-finding mission is investigating “the causes and factors” of the protests and will provide reports.
