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| Arabia |
| Iranian Forces in Yemen Demand Arms Smuggling Routes Be Opened |
| 2018-12-11 |
| [Free Beacon] Iranian-backed forces in Yemen are demanding the reopening of the country's international airport, a stumbling block in tense negotiations taking place this week between warring factions in Sweden, according to U.S. officials and Western sources on the ground who told the Washington Free Beacon this demand by Iran's Houthi rebels would allow Tehran to continue importing weapons and militants in an area of the Middle East that leaves Israel vulnerable to attack. As the peace talks drag on with no sustainable end in sight, Iran's Houthi allies are demanding the Sana'a international airport be reopened, but they are taking issue with proposals that would mandate all planes in and out of the airport be screened by Yemen's Saudi-backed government. Houthi leaders have rejected this compromise, sources confirmed to the Free Beacon, instead seeking to limit the possibility of inspections in order to keep military channels with Iran intact. This latest impasse is being viewed as a sign of the deep divisions that remain between Houthi rebels and Yemen. The international community has hailed the peace talks as a success‐as it is the first time in more than two years the legitimate Yemeni government and Houthi rebels have met face-to-face‐but after five days of talks, the sides have yet to reach agreement on any of the key confidence building measures on the docket, or on a framework for an eventual peace agreement. The talks are expected to continue through the end of the week. |
| Posted by:Frank G |