Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, head of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, chaired a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff in Aden, the declared temporary capital, on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

According to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, the meeting discussed the military situation on the battlefronts in light of the escalation by the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, and the high readiness to deter any threats.

The Prime Minister received reports from Defense Minister Lieutenant General Mohsen Al-Da'eri and ministry leaders regarding the military situation, the status of battlefronts, and the financial, logistical, and administrative needs to strengthen the armed forces' performance in fulfilling their duties. The meeting also addressed ongoing efforts to improve their capabilities and the well-being of their personnel.

Bin Mubarak emphasized the government's commitment to prioritizing the building of a strong military based on institutional and professional foundations, separating the military and security institutions from political conflicts, and addressing the needs of their personnel, including regular salary payments and providing for the battlefronts until victory is achieved in the battle to restore the state, end the coup, and ensure security and stability.

Saba reported that the Prime Minister directed the armed forces and all military formations to "increase combat readiness and maintain high vigilance to counter any attacks by the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, and to thwart their repeated attempts to return the situation to a full-scale war, disregarding the long-suffering of the Yemeni people."

Bin Mubarak's meeting and directives to the military leadership come amidst regional and international concerns about a renewed military escalation in Yemen, coinciding with the United Nations-led efforts to broker an agreement to end the nine-year war in the country.

Last Tuesday, July 23, the office of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, announced that the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Houthi group had reached an agreement on several de-escalation measures related to the banking sector and Yemenia Airlines.

Grundberg's office stated that it had received written confirmation from both parties agreeing to "cancel recent decisions and actions against banks on both sides and to refrain from any similar decisions or actions in the future."

The agreement, according to the statement, included the resumption of Yemenia Airlines flights between Sana'a and Jordan, increasing the number of flights to three daily, and operating flights to Cairo and India daily or as needed.

The agreement also stipulated that meetings would be held to address administrative, technical, and financial challenges facing the company, and to initiate discussions on all economic and humanitarian issues based on a roadmap.

On December 23, 2023, the United Nations announced that the Yemeni parties had reached understandings to commit to a set of measures, including implementing a ceasefire encompassing all of Yemen, taking steps to improve living conditions in Yemen, and engaging in preparations for the resumption of an inclusive political process under UN auspices.

The roadmap and peace efforts in Yemen have stalled due to attacks by the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden since last November.