PLC VP Al-Aradah Reviews National Developments with U.S. Ambassador

Maj. Gen. Sultan al-Arada, vice president of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), on Tuesday held talks with U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin on the latest political and military developments in the country. During the meeting, al-Aradah said Yemen is facing an exceptionally complex and difficult phase amid escalating political, military, economic, and security challenges. He stressed the need for strengthened regional and international cooperation, based on an effective partnership, to support efforts aimed at addressing these challenges and preventing attempts to prolong the conflict and undermine Yemen’s security and stability, as well as that of the wider region. Al-Aradah warned that international leniency toward destabilizing practices has, he said, encouraged the Iran-backed Houthi militia to persist in actions that undermine UN-led peace efforts. He called on the international community to shoulder its moral and political responsibilities by providing tangible support to the Yemeni government to enable it to restore state institutions and ease the suffering of the Yemeni people. He also underscored the importance of adherence to the three internationally recognized references and the Declaration of the Transfer of Power, cautioning that the current situation could have serious repercussions for security, stability, and counterterrorism efforts, and may create a vacuum exploited by extremist groups. Al-Aradah further emphasized that pulling Yemen out of its current crisis requires a supportive international position translated into concrete steps to address worsening economic and humanitarian conditions, cut off funding sources for militias, and empower state institutions to carry out their responsibilities toward citizens across all governorates. For his part, Ambassador Fagin reaffirmed U.S. support for the Yemeni people and Washington’s commitment to strengthening partnership in various fields, reiterating U.S. backing for efforts to promote stability, security, and development, confront ongoing challenges, and alleviate the suffering of Yemenis.