Asiri: No Truce Nor Negotiations on Yemeni Arena
Riyadh- Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen supporting the legitimate government confirmed that no route can solve the political crisis, after the insurgents’ revolt against their government, except the one taken by the U.N. approach, legitimate government and the U.N. 2216 resolution.
Coalition forces confirmed that there are no negotiations or truce achieved by Yemeni tribal leaders; clan members have tried to soothe the situation borders with Saudi Arabia as to allow humanitarian aid and relief to enter.
Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Asiri told Asharq Al-Awsat that any positive step helping a solution in Yemen is welcomed.
Arab coalition leaderships revealed that tribal figureheads are currently spending their efforts to devise somewhat a virtual truce on borders with Saudi Arabia. Their mission is aimed at having relief and medical aid reach near-border villages, given that those villages are in close proximity to military operations and confrontations. Saudi-led Arab coalition forces have responded positively to the temporary truce request at the border-exit Alb.
Saudi soldier Cpl. Jaber al-Kaabi was released in exchange for seven Yemenis who were detained while conducting operations on the southern Yemeni borders with Saudi Arabia.
News agency SPA said that the Saudi-led coalition welcomed the calm that may lead to a U.N. sponsored political solution according to resolution 2216.
Spokesman of Coalition Forces and adviser at Defense Minister’s Office Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Asiri clarified that the Yemeni tribal leaders coordinated the prisoner swap which led to the freeing of Cpl. Jaber al-Kaabi. He also said that Yemeni tribal figures helped facilitate the delivery of aid across the border into Yemeni villages. Al-Asiri pointed out that there are no negotiations going on; but efforts are being spent to ensure that relief reaches the unarmed villagers.
“We have responded to those initiatives, and encourage any likes of them. Should such passage lead to a final and political solution which restores Yemen’s security and stability, we definitely welcome such positive approaches,” al- Asiri said.
In a phone call, Brig. Gen. al-Asiri said that the villages’ tribal leaders are struggling to have relief reach them are mainly to the north of Yemen and near Saudi borders, a zone which includes hundreds of villages.
It is noteworthy that al-Asiri confirmed that Cpl. Jaber al-Kaabi is in a good state health and that he is currently taking medical examinations to insure his complete safety. Al-Kaabi will soon return to his family.
Al-Asiri further stressed that the current calm state should result in humanitarian relief reaching those in dire need of it, and that the coalition forces work on restoring hope to Yemen and maintain the legitimacy of its ruling administration.
He repeatedly stated that any positive initiative is dearly welcomed by the coalition forces, which places the Yemeni citizen in upmost importance.