Jakarta (ANTARA) – Yemen’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Salem Ahmed Abdulrahman Balfakeeh, has clarified that the conflict in Yemen is an internal struggle between the internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels, not a war with Saudi Arabia.
Speaking during a visit to the ANTARA News Agency in Jakarta on Tuesday, the ambassador sought to correct what he described as widespread inaccuracies in Indonesian media coverage of the ongoing civil war.
“What is happening in Yemen is that there is a terrorist rebel group called the Houthis, which staged a coup and seized power by force of arms,” Balfakeeh said.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the contrary, supports the Government of the Republic of Yemen.”
He expressed concern that misleading reporting obscures the reality on the ground, where the Houthi group has disrupted political consensus, severely damaged the economy, and inflicted widespread suffering on civilians.
“We have noticed ambiguity in the coverage of Yemen’s situation by several Indonesian media outlets,” Balfakeeh stated. “Some have even described the ongoing conflict as a conflict between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Such reporting is inaccurate.”
The ambassador reiterated that Yemen’s government has officially designated the Houthis a terrorist organization and is actively urging the United Nations to follow suit.
Beyond domestic turmoil, Balfakeeh warned that Houthi aggression threatens global security by targeting international shipping in the Red Sea and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
He cited attacks on commercial vessels like the MV Tihamah—which resulted in casualties, including Indonesian nationals—alongside ballistic missile strikes on populated areas such as Marib, Aden, and Shabwa.
Highlighting the acute humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing blockade of Taiz Province, which has cut off access to food and water, Balfakeeh called on the international community to exert immediate pressure to end the siege and help restore stability.
Translator: Katriana
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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