Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zoubi confirmed on Saturday in Manama that supporting the restoration of Yemeni state institutions and enhancing their capabilities is a shared responsibility and a fundamental pillar for achieving regional security and protecting international navigation. This came during the third general session of the Manama Dialogue 2026, under the theme "Foundations of Regional Security".
Saba Agency reported that al-Zoubi stated the repercussions of the coup on the state have transcended Yemen's borders to affect the security of neighboring areas, navigation, and international interests, necessitating translating solidarity into practical steps that address sources of threat and lay the foundation for sustainable stability. She stressed that there can be no talk of sustainable regional security without a safe and stable Yemen.
The minister pointed out that navigation security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab is inseparable from Yemen's stability, noting that protecting sea lanes requires addressing sources of threat and enhancing the capabilities of coastal states while respecting their sovereignty. She explained that external interventions and support for armed groups undermine stability prospects, citing the 2024 UN Panel of Experts report on the Houthi militias receiving weapons, technical assistance, training, and financial support from Iran, Iraqi armed groups, and Hezbollah.
Al-Zoubi warned of the dangers of links between armed groups and organized crime networks, citing the 2025 Panel of Experts report which revealed growing cooperation between the Houthis and Somalia's Al-Shabaab in arms smuggling, training, and exchanging military expertise. She called for enhancing information exchange, drying up funding sources, and monitoring arms and expertise transfer routes across borders.
The Yemeni Foreign Minister described the Houthi militias' siege of the city of Taiz as a war crime, noting that using the population's needs for food, medicine, and fuel as a means of pressure and political blackmail. She called for the immediate lifting of the siege and the permanent opening of roads in a safe manner, urging the United Nations to support an urgent investigation into field reports of shells suspected of containing toxic substances.
The minister stressed that addressing sources of threat requires ending the coup, restoring state institutions and extending their authority, and safeguarding Yemen's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, in accordance with the three references: the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, and Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216.
The 22nd edition of the "Manama Dialogue" summit, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, will be held from October 30 to November 1, 2026, with participation from delegations of more than 50 countries, along with more than 40 high-profile figures including ministers, senior military leaders, and high-level representatives of more than 10 international organizations.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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