Barran Press
Othman Mijalli, a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, stated on Thursday that the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization, has been targeting oil facilities in the provinces of Hadramout and Shabwa, as well as attempting to strike the Marib oil facility, under Iranian directives. He emphasized the urgent need to end Iranian interference in Yemen and the Arab region to achieve lasting peace.
Mijalli made these comments during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Stephen Fagin, where they discussed bilateral relations, cooperation mechanisms, support for development, the Yemeni economy, and efforts to combat terrorism and money laundering, according to the Yemeni news agency Saba.
During the meeting, Mijalli condemned the Houthis for detaining international organization staff and U.S. embassy personnel, as well as for imprisoning hundreds of innocent women, youth, and elderly individuals under false pretenses, fearing celebrations for Yemen's revolutionary anniversaries.
He praised the "genuine brotherly support" from Saudi Arabia and the UAE for peace efforts in Yemen, calling on the international community to take responsibility in assisting the Yemeni government and people to overcome the severe economic crisis.
In a separate issue, Mijalli condemned the brutal terrorist acts perpetrated by Israel against innocent civilians and infrastructure in Palestine and Lebanon, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause, which he deemed just.
Ambassador Fagin confirmed that they are working with international partners to develop ideas to support the economy and the Presidential Leadership Council in overcoming ongoing crises and countering terrorist actions that hinder peace and development in Yemen.
In August, Yemen's Ministry of Defense announced it had thwarted a Houthi attack targeting the Safir oil facility in Marib province, which was described as a "cowardly terrorist attempt" to destroy this vital civilian installation. The ministry reported that its forces intercepted the drones before they could achieve their destructive goals.
The Safir fields in Marib are crucial for the local economy, exporting oil through a 440-kilometer pipeline to the Red Sea coast near Hodeidah. Before the Saudi-led coalition's operations began in 2015, Yemen's oil exports were approximately 100,000 barrels per day, with production around 140,000 barrels daily.
The Houthis have previously launched several attacks on oil facilities, leading to the suspension of crude oil exports since late 2022, following assaults on export ports in Shabwa and Hadramout.