Yemen’s presidential leadership council chief vows to restore state authority nationwide

Shukri Hussein and Mohammad Sio

Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi vowed Sunday to continue efforts to restore state institutions and extend government sovereignty across the country amid rapidly shifting front lines in the conflict with the Houthi group.

Al-Alimi made the remarks during phone calls with several members of the Presidential Leadership Council, Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani, the commander of the Fourth Military Region, governors and military commanders to review the latest field, security, humanitarian and public service developments.

“The course of major national battles is not determined by a temporary change on one front line,” al-Alimi said, stressing that battlefield developments will not undermine the ability of the Yemeni people and armed forces to restore state institutions.

He said the course of the battle will instead be determined by “strength of will, unity of purpose and decision-making, and the ability to learn from challenges and turn them into opportunities to build greater strength and cohesion and regain the initiative.”

He said the strength of the state lies in the “integration of its military, security, political, economic and service fronts.”

The balance of territorial control in Yemen has shifted significantly in recent days, with the Houthis announcing control of several districts in Al Hudaydah and Taiz along the western coast, as well as Red Sea islands, including Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Yemeni government forces, meanwhile, have reported advances in Al-Jawf province along the Saudi border and said they were approaching Al-Hazm, the provincial capital.

Government forces have also reported airstrikes on Houthi targets in Mokha and surrounding areas, as well as locations in Taiz, Lahj and Al-Dhalea provinces, saying military vehicles and weapons were destroyed.

They also said they repelled a major Houthi attack on Marib.

Fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis has intensified since early July after years of relative calm.

Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led Arab coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.