Yemen’s Prime Minister Issues Ultimatum to Saudi-led Coalition: “One Last Chance” for Peace

Yemen’s Prime Minister Issues Ultimatum to Saudi-led Coalition: “One Last Chance” for Peace

Prime Minister of Yemen’s National Salvation Government, Abdulaziz bin Habtour issued a resolute warning to the member states of the Saudi-led coalition, asserting that they have “one last chance” to halt their prolonged war against Yemen. Amidst a backdrop of economic hardship and persistent conflict, Bin Habtour’s stern message underscores Yemen’s determination to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.

In a statement, Prime Minister Abdulaziz bin Habtour emphasized the urgency of the situation, cautioning that Yemen would not hesitate to consider an “appropriate response” to the aggressor regimes that have crippled the Yemeni government’s revenues.

He highlighted the resilience and awareness of the people in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, and their resolve to respond appropriately to external pressures.

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A Last Opportunity for Peace

Bin Habtour’s words echo the sentiments of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement. Yemen’s leadership has given the countries involved in the aggression “one last chance” to reconsider their stance and put an end to the protracted conflict that has inflicted immense suffering on the Yemeni population.

Control Over Revenue Sources

The Prime Minister unveiled the dire economic situation Yemen faces, emphasizing that all sources of government revenue are currently under the control of occupying forces. Historically, Yemen’s budget relied heavily on oil and gas revenues (75 percent), taxes and customs (15 percent), with the remainder coming from grants and loans. However, today, Hudaydah port is the sole source of income, accounting for just 10 percent of the entitled revenues, which is barely sufficient to cover half of the civil servants’ salaries every three months.

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Yemen’s Persistent State of War

Prime Minister Bin Habtour stressed that Yemen remains in a state of war with the aggressor countries, despite Oman’s attempts to mediate and extend a truce between Sana’a and the coalition. While acknowledging Oman’s sincere mediation efforts, he acknowledged their limited impact and highlighted that the responsibility to halt the war ultimately lies with the members of the Saudi-led coalition.

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The Conflict’s Background

Saudi Arabia waged a brutal war of aggression against Yemen in March 2015, with the support of regional allies and significant military aid from Western nations. Western governments provided political and logistical backing to Riyadh in an unsuccessful attempt to reinstate Yemen’s former Saudi-installed government. The protracted conflict has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Yemenis and has left the nation grappling with the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.