Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba said his country was not a tool to be used in regional confrontations and could not become any power's bargaining chip. In an interview published Saturday by Yemen's official Saba news agency, Al-Zouba also said the partnership between Yemen and Saudi Arabia was strong.
The comments came as Yemeni government forces and the Iran-backed Houthis continued fighting on several fronts across the country.
Call to strengthen state authority in Yemen
Al-Zouba described rebuilding state institutions as a fundamental step for Yemen's security, regional stability and the safety of maritime routes. He said the government was confronting the consequences of recent developments responsibly and resolutely.
The Yemeni minister said the government did not ignore the difficulty of the developments or the suffering of Yemenis. He said the state's responsibility was to address shortcomings, strengthen institutions, protect civilians and assist those affected.
Al-Zouba said the political leadership was pursuing an approach of “integrated deterrence” that did not rely solely on the military front. He said the approach included protecting civilians, addressing weaknesses, rebuilding capacity, safeguarding state institutions and services, using diplomacy and expanding humanitarian aid.
Maritime traffic and sovereignty in the Red Sea
Al-Zouba said the threat to maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab was not merely an attempt to disrupt shipping, but an effort by an armed group to impose its own terms.
Al-Zouba said military control of a region did not grant the right to control maritime traffic and that Yemen's sovereignty over its territory and islands could not be altered through the use of force. He also said the passage of a vessel under threat did not mean that maritime traffic was secure.
The Yemeni minister called for strengthening state authority along the coasts, at ports and on islands to achieve sustainable stability. He called for increased cooperation with coastal countries and partners in maritime intelligence sharing, port security, training, equipping coast guard forces, and combating smuggling and organized crime.
Relations with Riyadh, Cairo and Moscow
Al-Zouba said Saudi Arabia stood with the Yemeni people and the country's legitimate government, praising Riyadh's support and sacrifices. He described Saudi Arabia's role in supporting the Yemeni state as an important pillar for Yemen's security and regional stability.
Describing Egypt as an important Arab partner for Yemen, Al-Zouba said coordination between Cairo and Yemen continued on Red Sea security and bilateral relations.
Al-Zouba said he welcomed Russia's support for freedom of maritime traffic at the United Nations Security Council, its opposition to attacks on commercial vessels and its calls for the Houthis to respect the sovereignty of neighboring countries. He said they wanted to develop relations and dialogue with Moscow in the political, economic and development fields.
Reaction to Iran's support for the Houthis
Al-Zouba said the government rejected and condemned Iran's support for the Houthis, which it said was strengthening their military capabilities and using Yemen's geographic position to threaten neighboring countries and maritime routes.
The Yemeni minister said Yemen was not a tool to be used to compensate for a loss on another front and that his country could not be turned into a bargaining chip to strengthen any power's position in regional negotiations.
13 soldiers killed on the Taiz and Lahij fronts
The Yemeni army said 13 soldiers had been killed in clashes with the Houthis on the Taiz and Lahij fronts over the previous two days. A Yemeni government official said a senior Houthi commander and six of his guards had been killed on the Kahbub front near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Fighting intensified again in the areas of Taiz, Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda and Lahij. The military escalation that began in early July was the most intense period of fighting since the relative calm that followed the April 2022 truce.
Fighting accelerated in September, with the Houthis taking control of several key positions in Hudaydah and Taiz, including the strategic city of Mokha and Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The conflict in Yemen has continued since the Houthis seized the capital, Sana'a, and several provinces in September 2014. The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in March 2015 to support the internationally recognized government.
