Yemeni President Calls for Review of Roadmap Following Houthi Escalation and U.S. Terror Designation
Yemen Monitor – Newsroom:
The Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, has called for a reassessment of the UN-mediated roadmap with the Houthi group, citing recent developments—chief among them the U.S. re-designation of the group as a terrorist organization.
In a televised interview with Egyptian journalist Mostafa Bakry on Egypt’s “Sada El-Balad” channel, Al-Alimi warned against underestimating the Houthi threat to global maritime security, saying the group executes the agenda of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. He emphasized that the Red Sea attacks began before the Gaza war and have inflicted regional economic losses, including over $7 billion in damages to the Suez Canal.
Al-Alimi also revealed ongoing drug smuggling and production attempts in Houthi-controlled areas, along with a growing relationship between the Houthis and Al-Qaeda, confirming direct cooperation in carrying out illegal operations.
On the economic front, the president noted that over 70% of the government’s revenues were disrupted by Houthi attacks on oil infrastructure, worsening the financial crisis. However, he stated the government has managed to cover 40% of the budget using local resources, with support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE helping to fund salaries and basic services.
He affirmed that the Presidential Council has been working since its formation to restore state institutions and reactivate government functions from the interim capital, Aden, despite serious security, economic, and service-related challenges—especially in the electricity sector, where he said directives have been issued to address the situation in coastal areas.
On military affairs, he mentioned steps to restructure security and military agencies through a joint operations body and expanded training programs and integration with allies. However, he did not clarify how the complexities of the current situation would be overcome, given that non-unified military formations still exert influence on the ground.
He also discussed Arab and international support for the Yemeni cause, warning against “misguided sympathy” for the Houthis, driven by their public stance on Israel. He stressed that the group is merely a tool of Iran, used to destabilize the region.
In conclusion, Al-Alimi said the legitimate government has a comprehensive post-Houthi plan, including disarmament, institutional reform, a new constitution, and nationwide elections. He reaffirmed Yemen’s firm stance on the Palestinian issue and rejection of any displacement or liquidation schemes.
