President Al-Zubaidi to 'Reuters': Trump return pivotal in fight against Iran backed-Houthis

President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), in an interview with Reuters, welcomed Donald Trump's return as U.S. president, saying it was a decisive turning point to curb the Iran-backed Houthis, who he said threaten regional stability and maritime security.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The vice president of U.N.-recognised government on Tuesday welcomed Donald Trump's return as U.S. president, saying it was a decisive turning point to curb the Iran-backed Houthis, who he said threaten regional stability and maritime security.

Aidarous al-Zubaidi told Reuters that Trump's strong leadership and willingness to employ military strength were in sharp contrast to the Biden administration, which he said had allowed the Houthis to consolidate power, bolster their military capabilities and extend their reach beyond Yemen.

"Trump knows what he wants. He is a strong decision-maker," Zubaidi said in an interview on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos.

"We are fans, admirers and supporters of Trump's policy .... because he has a personality that has enough decision-making power to rule America and the world," he said, adding that he expected talks with the incoming administration to begin soon..

He said the unification of Yemen remains elusive, and called for two states as was the case before 1990, when South Yemen was separate from North Yemen.

"When we become two countries the conflict will be resolved," he said, adding that a coordinated U.S.-led international, regional and local strategy was needed to strike and weaken the Houthis and stop their attacks against commercial Western vessels navigating through the Red Sea..

Before Trump's inauguration on Monday, Yemen's Houthi leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, said they will limit Red Sea attacks to only Israeli-affiliated ships after a ceasefire began in Gaza, but strikes could resume if the situation changes..

A United Nations peace process to end the war, which triggered a dire humanitarian crisis, stalled after the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza.

The conflict in Yemen has left the Houthis entrenched in the north of the country, where they set up a mini-state that they rule with support from Tehran.

"This war has cost us a lot. It led to the collapse of the entire economy and sharp devaluation of the currency, an employee earns now $50-$60 (a month) ... Yemen's reconstruction will need hundreds of billions of dollars," he said.

For more details attached here under the link for the full interview:
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemen-vice-president-says-trump-return-pivotal-fight-against-iran-backed-houthis-2025-01-21/