Yemeni FM: Lebanon’s Vowed Measures against Houthi.. 'Ink on Paper'

Yemeni Foreign Minister, Ahmed bin Mubarak, has sharply criticised Hezbollah's involvement in the country's situation and requested that Hezbollah cease their satellite broadcasts of Houthi propaganda from Beirut's southern suburbs.

"Lebanon has declared a policy of disassociation from the crisis in Yemen. The top Yemeni ambassador told Asharq Al-Awsat, "But thus far, we have seen direct intervention that goes beyond remarks and speeches.

Bin Mubarak chastised Lebanon for failing to prevent Hezbollah from training Houthis, sending warriors to Yemen, transferring technology to militants, and hosting satellite channels for the Yemeni insurgency.

“All of these factors offend the historical link between Yemen and Lebanon,” said bin Mubarak, blaming Hezbollah for threatening Yemeni-Lebanese ties with desperate actions it is taking to transform the country into a hub for blatant intervention in the internal affairs of other Arab nations.

“We only want Lebanon to be within its Arab environment,” affirmed bin Mubarak, stating that Yemen supports any move taken to restore Lebanon to the Arab world.

Bin Mubarak also showed excellent diplomatic skills when discussing the Lebanese Interior Minister's February promise to look into Houthi channels' activities in Lebanon.

Bassam Mawlawi, Yemen's Interior Minister, had committed to look into and take action against channels broadcasting illegally from Lebanon.

“These promises remained mere ink on paper without any efforts being exerted to fulfill them,” said bin Mubarak.

“We are waiting for action,” added the minister, warning that the presence of channels that incite violence and recruit youth could harm Lebanon’s relations not only with Yemen but also with its Arab surrounding.

Bin Mubarak criticised Houthi-affiliated networks transmitting from Lebanon as a means of sustaining the war in Yemen by reminding viewers that the Houthis continue to enlist children as warriors.

“Therefore, we look closely at this issue and believe that our brothers in Lebanon, officially and popularly, reject this type of incitement emanating from Beirut, which has always served as an umbrella for all Arabs,” he said.