Iran's sectarian axis of destruction

At a time when the world awaits the UN and US efforts to cease hostilities and bring peace to Yemen, the Iranian sectarian axis of destruction is being mobilised behind the Houthis to occupy Marib city.

the small Marib city has become the shelter of two million IDPs who fled Houthi carnage. The Houthis have been intensifying their assault on Marib for months in an attempt to take over the oil-rich province where the leadership of the government armed forces is based.

Hundreds of Houthis, including dozens of military leaders, have been killed since early last month when the militia launched an offensive to recapture the oil-rich city of Marib, the Yemen government’s last bastion in the northern part of the country.

In addition, Iran has instructed the Houthis to obstruct the Saudi peace initiative like it instructed them not to sign what had been agreed upon at the peace negotiations in Kuwait years ago.

Advisor to Yemen's president Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi on Thursday accused Iran of mobilising its axis of sectarian destruction to support the Houthi group to seize Marib province and obstruct the Saudi peace initiative.

The Saudi initiative, announced by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan last week, proposed a nationwide truce, easing restrictions on shipping entering Houthi-controlled seaports, and reopening Sanaa airport to a limited number of regional and international destinations.

Iran-backed Houthis have “provisionally” accepted the Saudi initiative to end the war in Yemen, but are demanding unchecked flights from Sanaa airport to unlimited destinations before giving the peace plan their final approval, a Yemeni news agency reported.

The Houthis sought to arrange unchecked flights to all destinations, including Iran.

The internationally recognized government has always demanded flights at Sanaa airport be inspected to prevent the rebels from smuggling in weapons and fighters.