Aden (South24) 

The United States (US) Ambassador to Yemen, Steven Fagin, has been meeting separately with officials from the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council this week, in person and via video call, to discuss several issues. 

Yesterday, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and PLC member Aidrous Al-Zubaidi said that in a video call with Fagin, he discussed the increase in attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis against international shipping.

Posting on the X platform, he said: “Our conversation centered around the increasing Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes, the economic challenges facing Yemen, and the initiatives implemented by the PLC to reinforce the state's presence".

This morning I had a video call with the US Ambassador to Yemen, Stephen Fagin. Our conversation centered around the increasing Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes, the economic challenges facing Yemen and the initiatives implemented by the PLC to reinforce the state's…

— عيدروس الزُبيدي - Aidaros Alzubidi (@AidrosAlzubidi) July 17, 2024

"We also discussed the ongoing regional and international endeavors to advance peace in our country and the vital importance of operationalizing the joint negotiation delegation for any negotiations in the future," he added.

The US Ambassador met with the PLC Chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi, in Riyadh on Tuesday.

As reported by Saba Agency, Al-Alimi put Fagin “in front of local developments, including the economic and administrative reforms led by the PLC and the government, and efforts to launch a comprehensive political process in accordance with the terms of reference agreed upon nationally, regionally and internationally.”

"Al-Alimi stressed the importance of the donor community fulfilling its pledges to the humanitarian response plan through the Central Bank of Yemen, and accelerating procedures for transferring the headquarters of international organizations and their local partners to the capital, Aden," Saba added.

Yesterday, Fagin also spoke with Tariq Saleh, another PLC member and the commander of the Republic Guard forces based in the city of Mocha on the West Coast.

According to a statement published on X by the US Embassy, Ambassador Fagin discussed ongoing US support for the Yemeni government and enhancing cooperation with the Yemen Coast Guard to advance maritime security.

On Monday, Fagin met in Riyadh with PLC member Othman Majali. Saba Agency reported that Majli affirmed Yemeni support for the Central Bank’s decisions to regulate the banking sector.

Fagin's meetings coincided with talks between Yemeni officials and ambassadors of other countries, such as France and the UAE.

Meanwhile, Houthi leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi announced during a video speech broadcast on Al-Masirah TV today that his group has targeted 170 ships so far since the start of their naval military campaign in November 2023. Al-Houthi vowed to escalate attacks in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean to target more ships.