Aidarous Al-Zubaidi: Our forces protect the government in Aden and confront the Houthis on 15 fronts, and we suffer from service wars
English - Sunday 24 October 2021 الساعة 04:16 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:
The text of the interview of the President of the Transitional Council, Major General Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, with the Saudi newspaper Okaz:
First, let's talk about the relationship between the Transitional Council and the “Arab Alliance.” How would you describe it?
At the outset, I thank Okaz newspaper for its visit and we welcome it in Aden, and our relationship with the countries of the Arab coalition led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is strategic and fateful, and manifested in its Arab depth and the elements of its strength in the face of the dangers being hatched against our nation by the storm of firmness. .
There is no disagreement.. we agree with the "coalition"
• What are the most important points of convergence, and on the other hand, points of difference, or that some confusion still revolves around it?
•• We agree on all points, and there are no points of contention; The strengths between us and the brothers in the Arab alliance are that we are one authentic Arab fabric culturally, socially, economically and tribally, our religion is one, our identity is one, and the danger that threatens us is one, and the Arab project led and promoted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came as a culmination of these authentic elements that negate any hadith. It is about speculation of points of contention that do not exist.
How do the discussions with the "coalition" countries, led by Saudi Arabia, revolve, in the event that there are differences in positions or views?
•• We always exchange opinions from brother to brother and from brother to brother, and we benefit from dialogue, discussions and negotiations with brothers in the coalition by virtue of their experience, and we always take positive opinions that serve both parties and work with them; Any negatives that come up will be overcome, and in general we have everything that unites us "identity, religion and history".
• Before the start of Decisive Storm, were there meetings with coalition officials... and with whom?
Yes, but the main and basic meetings started after the start of the Decisive Storm, where positions were greatly strengthened. But before Decisive Storm, we can say that our meetings are limited. We met the Saudi ambassador in Yemen about two months before Decisive Storm, a meeting that contributed to strengthening the relationship before the launch "Decisive Storm".
And what was agreed upon?
•• The meeting was cordial, and the war erupted, after which the Decisive Storm erupted, and we were in the Southern Resistance the element of strength on the ground.
• Did you receive support to confront Al-Houthi before entering Aden?
•• When Al-Houthi moved his militia hordes towards the south, we confronted them with our own capabilities, and then support came with the launch of the Decisive Storm, and it was 100% Saudi support, especially in Al-Dhalea governorate, through the airdrops of weapons and ammunition, until the liberation of Al-Dhalea, and after the liberation of Al-Dhalea we moved to Aden and here we worked with the two poles of the Arab coalition represented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which played a pivotal role in supporting our forces and our participation on the ground in combat operations against the Houthi militias.
. What is the position of the Transitional Council on the Riyadh Agreement?
.. The Riyadh Agreement came in line with our position refusing to divert the course of our battle against the Houthi militias, and we in the Transitional Council supported the agreement and made many concessions in order to sign it; Because we see in the agreement an interest to unify efforts to confront the Houthis, and our position is positive, and we will continue with the Riyadh Agreement, God willing.
We did not obstruct the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement
• From time to time, fingers are pointed at the STC as the party obstructing the completion of the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement.. How true is that?
.. This is not true, and you can ask the brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who are the sponsors of the agreement.
. From your point of view, how can the implementation of the agreement be completed?
...we are ready to complete the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement; The first stage has been passed and a stage remains, and we are fully prepared to implement it.
• Do you see the implementation of the agreement as a real guarantee of unifying efforts in confronting the Houthi militias, and aborting the Iranian project, or do you see it from other angles?
•• The Riyadh Agreement is the solid, solid ground for confronting Al-Houthi under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is a starting point for unifying all efforts, whether at the level of the south or the north, to confront Al-Houthi.
We are facing the Houthis on 15 hot fronts
• The Transitional Council is based on armed forces. Do you participate in them in confronting the Houthis, and where?
•• Sure.. Our forces are fighting the Houthi militia on more than 15 fronts, which are the hottest fronts and the most victorious, and the rest of our forces are security forces to maintain security and stability in the cities and governorates of the south and in the fight against terrorism.
• What is your response to those who say that some of the leaders of the transitional have a hidden relationship with the leadership of the Houthis?
•• This is completely untrue and illogical, as our project is an Arab led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and saying such as this can direct it to its correct destination there, where the Houthi militias are expanding in operations similar to handover and receiving.
• What are the Yemeni components or arms that you think are in agreement with the Transitional Council and its orientations?
•• The Southern Transitional Council included most of the components that believe in restoring the state of the south, and the rest are simple components that we respect, and we have launched a dialogue, which in turn will clarify who are the forces close to us and who are the forces that are with other projects, and we are with all the national forces that share our fateful battle To eradicate the Iranian project in the region.
Our project is to protect the lands of the south
• There are those who believe that the transitional gave up the support of the legitimate forces in the face of the Houthis in Marib. What do you respond, and why did you disrupt the delivery of support with weapons and ammunition to the legitimate fronts?
•• Our project is clear and we are fully protecting the lands of the south, and we have not obstructed any force that was sent to Marib. Many convoys have passed to Marib from the southern governorates through Aden, Abyan, the western coast and the governorates under our control. Marib governorate was supported months ago, although our fronts did not It has received no legal support, even one shot, since 2015.
• How is your relationship with the nephew of the former Yemeni president, Brigadier Tariq Saleh, the leader of the Yemeni resistance forces?
•• Our relationship is good with them, and as long as they are fighting the Houthis, our relationship will continue and will be very strong in the near future.
• Do you think that the slogan “you win, play with it” has become a means for some Yemeni components to achieve their own goals, without taking into account the interest of Yemen?
•• There are many components that have special interests and work for the benefit of non-national projects. As for us, we have a national project that requires us to stick to principles, ethics and foundations.
Normalization with Israel is conditional
• In a previous meeting, you hinted at the possibility of normalizing the Transitional Council with Israel. Why this hint, and do you still agree with your opinion?
•• The issue of normalization with Israel does not mean abandoning the Palestinian cause, and we have repeatedly spoken about the right of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to live a decent life, and the most important thing is that they recognize the right of the Palestinians to establish their state alongside the State of Israel in accordance with the Arab peace initiative launched by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to establish An internationally recognized Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
• Let me go back to Aden.. How is it today?
•• The congestion witnessed in Aden was the result of the service war that was practiced by parties in the legitimacy that led to the collapse of the currency and the rise in the prices of foodstuffs, oil derivatives and medicines. The deteriorating economic situation has caused great suffering for the people.
• What is your role in creating the conditions for the government to exercise its role and perform its tasks in a comfortable and safe environment?
•• We have provided all the security conditions for the return of the government, and now the prime minister and a number of ministers, including the transitional ministers, are in Aden, and we have done everything we can to provide a good and safe environment for the government to carry out its duties.
Our forces protect the government in Aden
• But what is reported is that your forces were the reason for the government's return to Riyadh more than once, as a result of security tensions? •• This is not true, as our forces are always there to protect the government.
• How long will these differences continue, are you not afraid that Yemen will turn into a quagmire for terrorist organizations and criminal gangs, and the scene of Afghanistan will be repeated?
•• Our differences and our battle with Al-Houthi, and it will continue, as for the other components, there are no differences with them, there are minor differences that will be overcome.
• We are facing these differences between some Yemeni components. Isn't the Riyadh Agreement the way to discard these differences, unite efforts, and form a single front to break the thorns of the Houthi militias?
•• The Riyadh Agreement is the ideal map to unify efforts and form a single front to break the thorns of the Houthi militias.
• Can you announce, through the Okaz newspaper, your willingness to send forces to support Marib or open a front through Al-Bayda Governorate?
•• We are part of the Arab coalition led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and if all circumstances are available, we will discuss this with the Arab coalition according to clear plans. Participation in military operations has its bases and requires training, arming, insurance and many things.. We cannot be certain of them now.
• What is on your mind that you did not say?
•• We send a message to the brothers in the countries of the Arab coalition and the international coalition that we are ready to confront the Houthis and combat terrorism, and that we are an integral part of the Arab coalition, and this coalition will continue and will prevail, God Almighty.
