Major Military Meeting in Aden Blames Houthis for Escalation, Warns of Further Deterioration

Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
A major military meeting held in Aden, the interim capital, and chaired by Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad Al-Alimi, held the Houthis fully responsible for the ongoing escalation, the imposition of international sanctions, the militarization of regional waters, and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
According to Yemen’s official news agency, President Al-Alimi convened a meeting with the Joint Operations Command in Aden to discuss developments following U.S. airstrikes on Houthi military positions.
The meeting warned the Houthis against further escalation, stating that their failure to continue misleading public opinion is evident. It also affirmed the readiness of the Yemeni armed forces and all military units to respond firmly to any reckless actions.
Additionally, the meeting called on the Houthis to abandon Iran’s expansionist agenda and embrace peace, based on national, regional, and international agreements, including UN Resolution 2216.
The attendees received briefings from the Ministers of Defense and Interior, as well as security and intelligence officials, on the military and security situation, efforts to enhance stability in Aden and liberated governorates, counterterrorism measures, and strategies to improve the performance of security agencies at all levels.
The meeting was attended by:
Defense Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Security Committee Mohsen Al-Daari
Interior Minister Ibrahim Haidan
Head of the National Security Bureau Ahmed Al-Masabi
Head of Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance Ahmed Al-Yafei
Deputy Director of the Political Security Organization Nour Al-Din Al-Yami
Supreme Security Committee Rapporteur Abdul Hakim Shaif
In a related discussion, Al-Alimi and the Supreme Security Committee reviewed measures in response to the U.S. designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization, and ways to collaborate with the international community to curb Houthi threats to security and stability.
On Saturday, the U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had ordered the U.S. military to carry out “decisive and powerful military action” against the Houthis in Yemen, accusing them of “a campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism” against U.S. and international ships and aircraft.
U.S. officials have stated that US airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthis will continue indefinitely, after Saturday’s first round of strikes killed at least 31 people and wounded up to 100 others.
The strikes, which the U.S. claims are intended to punish the Houthis for their attacks on Red Sea shipping, mark the first significant use of US military force in the region since Trump assumed office in January.