On Sunday, November 24, 2024, Aidros Al-Zubaidi, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, urged for intensified local, regional, and international cooperation to adopt a comprehensive deterrence strategy against the Houthi movement, which is internationally classified as a terrorist organization. He emphasized the need to protect international shipping lanes in the strategically vital region.

Al-Zubaidi made these remarks during a virtual meeting with EU Ambassador to Yemen Gabriel Monuera Vinas, along with the Ambassadors of the Netherlands, Janet Seban, and Germany, Hubert Jäger, as reported by the official Saba News Agency.

The meeting addressed several critical issues, primarily focusing on the Houthi escalation against international shipping routes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden. The ambassadors discussed the increasing risks posed by this escalation to global economic stability and energy security, as well as its catastrophic humanitarian consequences for the Yemeni population.

Al-Zubaidi reiterated that the Houthi group's hostile actions clearly demonstrate their lack of willingness to pursue peace. He noted that their terrorist attacks and ongoing escalation have transformed them from a group threatening national and regional stability into a terrorist organization endangering the security of the region and the world.

The discussion also covered the economic and humanitarian conditions in Yemen, exploring potential ways to support the Presidential Leadership Council and the internationally recognized government in overcoming the country’s crises.

Al-Zubaidi called on the European Union to enhance its support for Yemen through development programs focused on improving livelihoods, supporting sustainable development projects, and training young professionals, which would contribute to building community capacity and achieving stability.

The ambassadors of the EU, the Netherlands, and Germany expressed their full support for UN and regional efforts aimed at achieving peace in Yemen. They reaffirmed the EU's commitment to providing necessary assistance to improve humanitarian conditions and activate development partnerships to enhance opportunities for stability and peace in Yemen.

Since October, the Houthi militia has launched missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, prompting many ships to avoid the Suez Canal in favor of the more costly route around the Cape of Good Hope.