Yemen files objection to Hizbullah's support for Houthis

In a letter to Lebanon, Yemen's government has condemned recent statements of incitement by Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah and his militia's intervention in the country through its support of the Houthis (Ansarallah).

Hizbullah's intervention will harm Yemen's interests, fuel and prolong the war, and disrupt the region's stability and security, said the letter from Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani to his Lebanese counterpart, Gebran Bassil.

Al-Yamani expressed his government's condemnation of Hizbullah's statements and actions against Yemen, and demanded the Lebanese government take all necessary measures to stop this hostile behaviour.

This type of incitement runs against Lebanon's policy of dissociation, the letter said, referencing statements made by Nasrallah in a televised speech on June 29th.

In his speech, the Hizbullah chief expressed his readiness and that of his party to fight in Yemen alongside the Houthis, against the legitimate government.

"This unjustified hostile behaviour will cause great damage to Yemen's supreme interests and national security and fuel the war, which will undermine the region's security and stability," the letter said.

Al-Yamani said Yemen reserves the right to bring the issue to the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and the UN Security Council, all of which call for respecting the sovereignty of states.

"Hizbullah has abused relations between Yemen and Lebanon through its participation in training, planning, inciting and supporting Houthi militias that staged a coup against the legitimate authority on September 21st, 2014," he said.

The Iran-backed militia proceeded to capture state institutions, storm provinces, and impose its control by force, in implementation of Iran's expansionist project, he added.

A response to Hizbullah's incitement

"Yemen's complaint at this time came as a result of Hassan Nasrallah's public incitement on TV for fighting in Yemen and supporting the Houthis," said General People's Congress general committee member Adel al-Shogaa.

As pro-government forces come close to liberating al-Hodeidah from the Houthis, "Nasrallah wanted to mobilise fighters to support the Houthis in this important battle", he told Al-Mashareq.

Losing the strategic Red Sea port "will weaken the Houthis and cut Iran's arms and other forms of support to them", he said.

Hizbullah's interventions have become "unbearable", journalist Khaled al-Haruji told Al-Mashareq, and the legitimate government must resort to stronger means to deter such interventions, which serve Iran's expansionist policies.

Yemen's Minister of Local Administration and chairman of the Higher Committee for Relief Abdul Raqib Fatah condemned the Houthis' treatment of civilians and of public infrastructure, including health care facilities, in al-Hodeidah.

"Houthi militias have shelled water tanks in al-Tuhayat, and this will aggravate the suffering of people in al-Hodeidah," he said in a statement.

Political analyst Munir Talal told Al-Mashareq the Houthis' shelling of water tanks came in response to the celebrations following the liberation of their town from the Houthis earlier this week.

"In case of defeat, the militias' behaviour is usually focused on destroying and sabotaging all civilian services to harm civilians and aggravate their suffering," he said. "This behaviour must be condemned both locally and internationally."