Political and security developments in Iraq, Yemen and Egypt

Yesterday, Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi renewed his reminder of the new deadline to end the file of restricting the weapons of groups close to Iran in the hands of the state, in an announcement that came the day after the end of the “International Coalition” mission.

Al-Zaidi said in a statement, “October 1, 2026 is a serious beginning to address the issue of weapons outside the control of the state, and adherence to constitutional entitlements, according to a clear road map that ends in June 2027.”

Al-Zaidi stressed that the government “will work, in accordance with the Constitution, to disarm all non-Iraqi groups present on Iraqi territory, in a way that preserves the country’s security and stability and controls its borders.”

On the other hand, the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades revealed that negotiations with the government regarding its weapons “did not lead to decisive results,” while it announced the cessation of military operations except for what it called “hostile aviation.”

The faction official, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, said, “The resistance won this round with the American occupation, and the victor in it is the one who imposes its conditions,” adding that “there is nothing wrong with the multiplicity of armies and military formations, including the resistance and the government.”

On Thursday evening, the Yemeni army announced the implementation of 27 air strikes along the fighting fronts in Taiz Governorate, southwest of Al Bala, targeting sites and gatherings belonging to the Houthi group.

Majid Al-Nuzaili, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a statement, “The raids targeted an integrated Houthi military system, which included a missile warehouse, command and control centers, advanced supply and armament points, in addition to gatherings of the group’s members, vehicles, and military vehicles.”

He explained that the strikes targeted targets on 60th Street, north of the city of Taiz, Bani Omar, and the Himyar Front in Maqbanah District, east of Al-Wazi’iyah, Al-Ahkoum and Al-Athawer in Haifan District, Al-Kadaha, Jabal Numan, Al-Karifat, Aqaba Munif, Al-Tashrifat, Al-Aqroud, Sami’, and Al-Shaqab in Sabr Al-Mawadim.

He added that the raids "achieved precise and direct hits" on their targets, and resulted, according to him, in the destruction of dozens of military vehicles and capabilities, and the death and injury of large numbers of Houthi members.

Al-Nuzaili said that the armed forces also targeted “high-value targets in the capital, Sana’a, in addition to 11 high-value targets in Saada Governorate,” without clarifying the nature of these targets or the results of the strikes on them.

Al-Nazili confirmed the continuation of military operations in Taiz, saying that “the strikes confirm the unity of ranks and fronts, and that the armed forces will not leave Taiz.”

This comes with the escalation of battles in Taiz Governorate, following violent attacks launched by the Houthis on several axes inside the city and the outskirts of the governorate, which led to the outbreak of confrontations and mutual bombardment between the two sides.

Egypt declared the advisor to the Ethiopian embassy in Cairo persona non grata and gave him 48 hours to leave the country.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement on Thursday that the decision came in implementation of the rules of diplomacy and after Ethiopia considered the Egyptian diplomat Ahmed Muharram Ahmed Suleiman persona non grata and gave him 48 hours to leave the country.

Egypt saw the Ethiopian action as unfortunate and unjustified. An official source confirmed Egypt's adherence to respecting the sovereignty of countries and not interfering in their internal affairs.

The Egyptian side pointed out that Ethiopia has become accustomed to pinning its successive internal crises on the authority of external parties.