Yemen’s official blames Iran for military escalation in his country

Yemen’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi stressed on Wednesday that success achieved by the Arab coalition and the pro-government forces against Iran-backed coup militias has forced the latter towards military escalation.
He added that Yemen’s internationally-recognized government headed by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Arab Coalition have managed presenting a strong case in convincing world countries that militias are chiefly responsible for disrupting peace and finding a political solution.
Coup forces in Yemen have responded to international efforts in support of the UN special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, with military escalation—with its last undertaking being the firing of a missile at Saudi Arabia.
Iran-aligned Houthis have also increased their acts of violence at home, hoping to escape the political solution and admitting defeat on behalf of the Iranian project in Yemen and the region. Houthis are devoted to spreading falsified rumors aimed at marring the image of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Coalition and the government, said Mekhlafi.
 Mekhlafi expressed surprise at some media outlets spreading fake news targeting Hadi’s standing. He pointed out that making false allegations and lies is the result of the frustration of coup forces.
High collaboration found between the Arab Coalition and government forces has continued to disturb coup ranks. In its latest reaffirmation, the Arab-Yemeni cooperation was further consolidated at the Conference of Foreign Ministers and Chiefs of Staff of the coalition, a meeting which focused on salvaging Yemen’s security, stability, unity, and territorial integrity, all of which is linked to a fierce commitment to restore legitimacy to Yemen.
Mekhlafi also added that news outlets and broadcast must confirm their sources before making headlines, saying making anti-government propaganda based on unidentified sources was short to surprising.
“I think the dissemination rumors harm the coup’s argument, and depict the slope that the movement has gone down for achieving political goals in its campaign against Saudi Arabia, the coalition and the Yemeni legitimate government,” said Mekhlafi. He said that the prime minister, who is currently visiting Egypt, will return to Aden soon.
A large number of ministers are still on duty at the ministerial headquarters in Aden and all state institutions and officials are currently in the process of doing their job, added Mekhlafi.  He said he will accompany Hadi during his visit to Germany to participate in the World Climate Summit.
An official source in the Yemeni presidency denied the validity of rumors suggesting that Hadi or any of his ministers being under house arrest in Riyadh.
 “Such lies are part of a systematic campaign targeting Saudi Arabia, which is leading a battle to stop Iranian interference in Yemen and the region,” said Mekhlafi.
Sources also said that rumors were launched at a time “legitimate forces are inching in against the capital, Sana'a (coup stronghold)” and are “making significant progress on all fronts”.