Al-Alimi: Confining weapons to the state is essential to confronting the Houthis
Dr. Rashad Muhammad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, stressed the utmost importance of restricting weapons to the state and ending all armed manifestations outside the framework of official institutions, considering this step to be the cornerstone in the path of restoring the state and unifying the national ranks to confront current challenges, foremost among them the Houthi coup.
Security priority and unifying military decision-making
Al-Alimi's statements come within the context of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Presidential Leadership Council since its formation to end the state of division in the liberated areas. Al-Alimi consistently emphasizes that the stability of the liberated governorates, particularly the interim capital Aden, depends entirely on the existence of a unified security and military institution operating under a joint operations room, thus preventing any security breaches that could be exploited by hostile parties to destabilize public order.
Context of the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council
Since the transfer of power and the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council in April 2022, the new Yemeni leadership has prioritized the integration of military and security forces. A joint security and military committee was established for this purpose, aiming to restructure the various formations under the umbrella of the Ministries of Defense and Interior. This step is a strategic necessity to ensure that efforts are not fragmented and to direct all resources toward the decisive battle to liberate the capital, Sana'a, and the remaining areas under militia control.
The importance of restricting weapons in the fight against the Houthis
Observers of Yemeni affairs believe that Al-Alimi's call to restrict weapons to the state carries not only an internal security dimension, but also a highly significant political and military message. The Iranian-backed Houthi militias have long relied on internal divisions within the legitimate government's camp to prolong their control. Therefore, the state's success in monopolizing force and controlling weapons will undermine the militias' position and strengthen the legitimate government's stance, both on the battlefield and at the UN-sponsored political negotiations.
Impact on regional and international stability
The importance of these moves extends beyond the domestic sphere to encompass regional and international security. A strong, unified Yemeni state that controls its own weapons is the only guarantee for securing international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which are under constant threat. International and regional powers, including the Arab Coalition led by Saudi Arabia, support these efforts to strengthen Yemeni state institutions as the only way to end the conflict and achieve lasting peace.
