In his address at the Munich Security Conference, Rashad al-Alimi, the leader of the internationally recognized Yemeni Presidential Council, highlighted the significant threats posed by the Houthi rebels. His speech was concentrated on the pertinent issues related to the Houthi insurgency and the resulting instability in the region.
He underscored that the most effective strategy to neutralize these threats is to militarily defeat the Houthis. Further, al-Alimi stressed the importance of leveraging international pressures on Iran, a country he alleges has been providing support to its Yemeni ally, to halt its backing.
Al-Alimi stated, “To put an end to Houthi piracy, we need to deal with the source of the threat: end the insurgency, restore state institutions and apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime.” This assertion from the politician underscores the need to tackle the issue at its roots, which includes ending the rebellion, reestablishing state institutions that have been crippled by the unrest, and applying significant pressure on Iran, which he accuses of being a major source of the problem.
Moreover, Al-Alimi articulated his belief that the Houthi’s attacks on vessels will persist even after the cessation of the war in Gaza. He explained, “As long as Iran continues to support and arm the militants, they will continue to threaten shipping and blackmail the international community.” This underlines Al-Alimi’s assertion that the cessation of Iran’s support for the rebels is crucial for regional stability and international security.
