South Yemen's leaders discuss counterterrorism with US officials

US officials engaged in separate meetings with three prominent South Yemeni leaders in Abu Dhabi and Washington over the weekend to address crucial matters, particularly the counterterrorism efforts of the Southern forces and the rising hostilities of the Houthi militia against maritime vessels.

In Abu Dhabi, US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin held talks with Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and member of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) on Saturday. At the outset of the meeting, Ambassador Fagin extended his condolences for the death of Southern soldiers in an attack by the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terror group in Abyan on August 16.

Al-Zubaidi highlighted in a post on the X platform that his meeting with Fagin emphasized "the importance of the ongoing and increased cooperation in combating terrorist groups within our country”. He also delved into the recent developments linked to the UN-led peace process in Yemen and the strategies to enhance the PLC's effectiveness.

The US Ambassador said on X: "Productive meeting with Aidrous al-Zubaidi in Abu Dhabi to discuss his counterterrorism efforts and the critical need for Republic of Yemen Government unity in the face of increasingly aggressive Houthi actions." The Ambassador affirmed that "the United States stands firmly with the PLC in supporting the fight against terrorism for a sustainable peace."

The US Ambassador held a separate meeting with Abdulrahman Al-Muhrrami, a PLC member and the STC Vice President, at the Yemeni embassy in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. They discussed about the repercussions of the Houthi assaults on vessels and international shipping, and their ramifications on the Yemeni economy.

Al-Muhrrami conveyed on the X platform that "discussions with the US Ambassador to Yemen, Steven Fagin, centered on the latest developments and endeavors towards peace in Yemen." Al-Muhrrami also discussed the economic and services-related challenges faced by citizens due to "the persistent terrorist acts of the Houthi militia”, and advocated for global backing for the Yemeni government in restoration of state institutions and implementation of economic reforms, as well as taking a resolute international stance against the Houthi actions.

The US Ambassador remarked on X: "I had the honor of meeting Abdulrahman Al-Muhrrami in Abu Dhabi to discuss our shared commitment to peace and the economic challenges facing the Yemeni people. The United States remains steadfast in supporting the Republic of Yemen Government and securing international shipping lanes against Houthi threats."

Meanwhile, in Washington, United States Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking conferred with Faraj Al-Bahsani, a PLC member and the other Vice President of STC on Sunday. Al-Bahsani is on a visit to the United States.

Al-Bahsani, posted on the X platform, that the meeting "reviewed the prevailing political and military landscapes, deliberated on international peace endeavors, and the government's embrace of peace initiatives." He highlighted "the obstinate stance of the terrorist Houthi militia towards peace”, underscoring the necessity to counter the Houthi escalations and urged the global and regional community to compel these militias to desist from their escalatory actions and engage with the peace proposals.

While the STC maintains favorable relations with the United States, the Southern forces advocate for enhancing these ties towards tangible collaboration and direct assistance to finish the fight against terrorist groups in South Yemen, notably the AQAP and ISIS.

The Southern forces emphasize that the need for this collaboration has grown more urgent given mounting evidence of coordination between AQAP and the Iran-backed Houthi faction.

Notably, in June the CNN news agency in a report quoted CIA officials as saying that they had learned about plans by the Houthis to sell arms to the Somali Al-Shabaab militants, the Somali branch of Al-Qaeda, a group listed on the global terrorism indexes.