PLC President: State Will Not Allow Flights Outside Its Exclusive Jurisdiction; Houthis Must Accept Announced Initiatives

  Riyadh

His Excellency President Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, President of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired a meeting on Saturday with Yemen’s ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions abroad. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Shaya Mohsen Al-Zindani.

At the meeting, the PLC President conveyed, on behalf of himself, his fellow Council members, and the government, appreciation for the efforts of the Foreign Ministry and Yemen’s diplomatic missions in representing the Yemeni state and serving its citizens and national interests abroad under the country’s current difficult circumstances.

He stressed that the responsibility of diplomatic missions at this critical stage extends beyond the traditional role of representing the state. Rather, they have become an integral part of the national battle to defend the Republic of Yemen, safeguard its sovereignty, and protect its legitimate institutions.

President Al-Alimi said recent developments had demonstrated that national battles are no longer fought solely on the battlefield but also in capitals around the world, international organizations, the media, lobbying circles, and decision-making centers.

“Success in any military or political battle is now also linked to our ability to secure international support, reinforce the national narrative, and protect the truth from disinformation campaigns,” he added.

The PLC President reviewed the political, diplomatic, and military measures taken by the state in recent days in response to the latest Houthi escalation, with the aim of deterring any reckless attempts to impose agendas unrelated to the interests of the Yemeni people.

“We have so far succeeded in shifting the issue from being portrayed as the operation of a humanitarian flight to one that concerns the sovereignty of a United Nations member state and constitutes a real test of the international community’s ability to uphold its own rules and enforce its resolutions,” President Al-Alimi said.

He noted that the Yemeni government had observed growing understanding among many brotherly and friendly countries. He described it as a positive development that should be built upon to strengthen international support for the government and the aspirations of the Yemeni people for security, stability, and peace.

The PLC President also outlined the priorities for Yemen’s diplomatic missions during the next phase, including intensifying efforts to deepen the international isolation of the Houthi militias, reinforce respect for Yemen’s sovereignty and legal status. He urged them to do so without harming the interests of the Yemeni people or their humanitarian priorities.

President Al-Alimi reaffirmed that restoring state institutions remains the only path to achieving lasting peace. He said the government’s welcome for all humanitarian efforts, including the recent Jordanian initiative, reflects the state’s commitment to easing the suffering of citizens and its openness to all initiatives that serve that objective.

“Nevertheless, the state will not allow any flights to operate outside its exclusive sovereign jurisdiction. The Houthis have no alternative but to accept these humanitarian arrangements and place the interests of the Yemeni people above their narrow interests,” he added.

The PLC President instructed Yemen’s diplomatic missions to continue countering the Houthis’ misleading narratives through facts, evidence, and the principles of international law, rather than emotional rhetoric. He also called for highlighting the militias’ grave human rights violations and exposing their ideology, which is based on entrenching racial discrimination and undermining the concept of a state founded on justice, the rule of law, and equal citizenship.

The meeting was attended by Director of the Presidency Office Dr. Yahya Al-Shuaibi, Minister of Information Muammar Al-Eryani, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Afrah Al-Zouba, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Mustafa Noman.