Yemen Welcomes Italy’s Decision to Block Weapons Export to Saudi Arabia, UAE
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Yemeni Ansarullah movement praised Italy’s decision to halt permits to export weapons to both Saudi Arabia and the UAE due to their participation in the war on the impoverished country.
In a post on his official Twitter page on Friday, the Houthi Ansarullah spokesperson Mohammed Abdul Salam, hailed Italy’s decision and wrote, “Italy’s announcement to stop selling weapons to countries that launch aggression against Yemen is a positive step which contributes to protecting civilians and supporting the peace process”.
Earlier Friday, Italy’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio affirmed his country's close commitment to respecting human rights, stressing that the suspension decision is "a correct step and a clear message of peace from Italy."
“Today I am announcing that the government has revoked the authorizations under way for the export of missiles and aircraft bombs to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,” the Minister’s tweet reads.
The permits were granted to sell airborne bombs and missiles at a time when they were being used in the Yemen war.
Di Maio also added, “(This is) an act that we considered due, a clear message of peace coming from our country. For us, respect for human rights is an unbreakable commitment.”
Italy’s Peace and Disarmament Network, a campaign group, hailed the move as “historic” and said the move would stop the supply of at least 12,700 bombs.
It “puts an end, once and for all, to the possibility that thousands of ordnance manufactured in Italy could strike civilian facilities, cause casualties among the population or contribute to worsening the already serious humanitarian situation”, the group said.
Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched the war on Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the government of former president, Abd Rabbouh Mansur Hadi, back to power and crushing the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.
According to the UN, 80 percent of Yemen’s 30 million people need some form of aid or protection. About 13.5 million Yemenis currently face acute food insecurity, UN data shows.
The popular Houthi Ansarullah movement, backed by the Yemeni armed forces and allied popular groups, has gone from strength to strength against the Saudi-led invaders, and successfully defended Yemen against the Saudi aggression, leaving Riyadh and its allies bogged down in the county.