US-Yemeni Talks Held on Houthi Violations, Counterterrorism

Yemeni-US talks focused on Houthis and counterterrorism were held on Monday with official sources confirming that Yemeni Vice President Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar had met US Deputy Chief of Mission for Yemen Junaid Munir.

The two officials, according to sources, have discussed counterterrorism, Houthi violations and the Riyadh Agreement, which brings together Yemen’s internationally-backed government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

“During the meeting, Ahmar pointed out major successes achieved in the field of combating terrorism and how it positively reflects on the stability of Yemen and the region,” sources said.

In the meeting, Ahmar stressed that “the forceful export of Iranian Khomeinist revolution ideologically, politically, militarily and culturally, brought about scourges to the region, created terrorism represented by (ISIS) and (Al Qaeda), provided justifications for external interventions, and spread ruin and destruction in the region.”

Addressing the Riyadh Agreement, Ahmar said: “The Yemeni government is keen on uniting all of Yemen’s political components under the leadership of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and focusing the fight against the Houthi-Iranian terrorist agenda in Yemen.”

Another meeting brought together Munir with the Yemeni Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Burkani.

Official sources stated that Burkani “discussed serious efforts spent by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to implement the Riyadh Agreement, and reviewed illegal measures taken by Houthi militias, especially slashing the official currency and withdrawing it from citizens.”

The latest Houthi move, according to Burkani, is set to impoverish citizens.