Yemen has urged the Lebanese government to take coordinated and decisive action to stop Hezbollah from providing military assistance to the Houthi militia, while backing Beirut's efforts to assert sovereign control over its territory and weapons. Yemen's foreign minister Afrah Al-Zouba, in a post on social media platform X, welcomed Lebanon's official position supporting Yemen's territorial integrity and stressed the need for closer bilateral cooperation to dismantle the logistical and operational support allegedly provided by the Iran-aligned Lebanese group to Houthi fighters. "We greatly appreciate the position of our brotherly Lebanon, at the leadership and government levels, in support of Yemen's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and in rejection of any military intervention in its internal affairs," Al-Zouba said. Calling for institutional coordination between the security and intelligence agencies of both countries, the Yemeni foreign minister urged joint efforts to disrupt militant networks and prevent further military assistance to the Houthis. "We affirm the importance of building on this position through coordination between the relevant authorities in our two countries to follow up on our government's announcement regarding the role of Hezbollah members in supporting the military operations of the terrorist Houthi militia, and to take joint measures to halt this support and prevent its recurrence," she mentioned. Al-Zouba also reaffirmed Yemen's support for Lebanon's sovereignty and its efforts to bring all weapons and military decisions under state control, underscoring the importance of strengthening bilateral ties. "We reaffirm Yemen's support for Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and stability, and for the Lebanese state's efforts to extend its authority over its entire territory and to retain exclusive control over weapons and decisions of war and peace. We also affirm our commitment to strengthening the fraternal relations between our two countries on the basis of mutual respect and in a manner that serves our shared interests. " The internationally recognised Yemeni government has repeatedly accused Hezbollah and its Iranian backers of providing ballistic missile expertise, combat drone training and operational leadership to Houthi forces fighting in Yemen.
Al-Zouba's remarks came in response to a statement by the Lebanese Presidency on November 4, following a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss the domestic and regional security situation ahead of a Cabinet session at the Grand Serail. Salam subsequently issued a strong warning against Lebanon being drawn into external military conflicts, asserting that decisions on war and peace must remain exclusively with the state and its constitutional institutions. "In the face of the risks of renewed war in the region, I reiterate the warning against the consequences of dragging Lebanon into any new futile adventure in service of foreign interests and thrusting it into confrontations it cannot afford to bear the repercussions of," Salam stated in an official release shared by the Lebanese Presidency. Emphasising the heavy toll of previous conflicts, Salam said the Lebanese people, particularly those in the south, had already suffered enormous losses and deserved a future free from war and displacement. "The Lebanese have paid dearly—especially our people in the south—with their lives, livelihoods, and homes, and they have the right to live in security and to build their future away from the vortex of wars, displacement, and destruction. Protecting Lebanon is a national responsibility that requires prioritising its supreme interest above all else, and committing to the principle that decisions of war and peace lie exclusively in the hands of the state and its constitutional institutions. We will not accept that a fate not of their choosing be imposed on the Lebanese, or that their homeland be turned once again into an arena for others' conflicts; our duty is to safeguard its sovereignty, protect its people, and exert every effort to spare it a new war," the Prime Minister affirmed.
In a particularly pointed message, Salam condemned Lebanese armed groups involved in military activities outside the country, directly referring to the allegations recently raised by the Yemeni government against Hezbollah. "In this context, I strongly condemn and denounce any Lebanese elements or groups intervening in the internal affairs of our Arab brethren, particularly through any form of military activities that threaten the security and safety of their countries, the latest of which was announced by the sisterly Yemeni government," Salam stated. He warned that such activities could undermine Lebanon's interests and damage its relations with neighbouring Arab countries, reiterating Beirut's commitment to respecting their sovereignty and security. "These acts can only result in harm to Lebanon and the interests of its people. We are fully committed to respecting the sovereignty and security of our brethren, preventing harm to them, and we look forward to strengthening our relations with them and developing them on solid foundations of mutual trust," the Lebanese Prime Minister added.
