Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Yemen’s ex-president attempts to leave country, fails: sources | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Yemen’s former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in February 2012 when he formally handed over power to his deputy. (Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images)


This February 2012 file photo shows Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh when he formally handed over power to his deputy. (Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images)

This February 2012 file photo shows Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh when he formally handed over power to his deputy. (Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images)

Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s ousted former president Ali Abdullah Saleh attempted to leave the country in a military aircraft just days ago, but was stopped due to the blockade of Yemeni airspace enforced by the Saudi-led anti-Houthi coalition, sources have told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources, who requested anonymity, said Saleh tried leaving Yemen’s airspace in a Russian Mil Mi-171 helicopter—acquired during his presidency as part of an arms deal with Moscow—after receiving threats from the Iran-backed Shi’ite Houthi movement, who still hold large swaths of territory in the country.

In recent days Saleh has called on the Houthis, with whom he had formed an alliance to launch a coup in Yemen, to bow to UN demands and withdraw their militias from areas in the country they have occupied.

The sources said the Houthis warned Saleh not to attempt to strike any deal with members of the Saudi-led coalition, which launched a military offensive, known as Operation Decisive Storm, in March 26 to counter the Houthi advance and return political legitimacy to the country—represented by Yemen’s internationally recognized President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

In its recent Security Council resolution on Yemen the UN demanded the withdrawal of all Houthi militias from occupied areas in the country, the return of all weapons and military installations seized by the group back to the state, and that all political factions return to the negotiating table.

The UN had earlier slapped a travel ban on Saleh and Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi in November of 2014 after the Houthi takeover of Sana’a, accusing the ex-president and the Shi’ite movement of threatening the security and stability of the country.

Saleh is accused by Saudi Arabia, its Arab allies, and the UN of aiding the Houthi advance across the country since September of 2014, through members of the military and security establishments still loyal to him.

A top Gulf official told Asharq Al-Awsat recently that Saleh could not leave Yemen without the approval of Saudi Arabia and its allies, and that any neighboring or nearby country would not be permitted to allow him to cross their borders due to the UN travel ban.

This comes as fierce street battles rage on in the southern port city of Aden and the Red Sea coastal city of Taiz, between Houthi militias and volunteer forces loyal to President Hadi. Reports also suggest coalition airstrikes have continued despite the declaration of the end of Operation Decisive Storm last week. Coalition members have however insisted that strikes will restart if the Houthis continue any acts of aggression against the Yemeni people.