President Al-Zubaidi: Australia's designation of Houthi as a terrorist organization boosts global integrated deterrence against this militia

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaident of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) met on Thursday with H.E. Mark Donovan, Ambassador of Australia to Yemen.

The meeting, which was attended by Ms. Kim Ralston, Deputy Head of Mission of Australia, discussed a range of topics of common interest, with a focus on the Houthi escalation against international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden.

President Al-Zubaid lauded Australia's decision to designate the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization, given the militia's role in exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country and harming the global economy, and expressed hope that this decision would solidify regional and international consensus in formulating a robust strategy to deter this terrorist militia.

The meeting also touched on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country, resulting from the catastrophic repercussions of the Houthi's targeting of vital economic facilities and the efforts exerted by the PLC and the government to lift the country out of its dire economic situation. 

The two sides engaged in discussions on bilateral relations with Australia and explored avenues to bolster joint cooperation and partnership across various sectors to advance shared interests and promote security and stability in the country and the wider region.