Newspaper: Houthis evacuate key headquarters in Iraq, Yemeni government demands more firm stance from Baghdad

The Iraqi government denied reports that the Houthi group was using a training camp in the Khalis area of Diyala Governorate (eastern Iraq), in response to a report by Foreign Policy magazine.

On March 18, 2025, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth discussed with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani military operations aimed at "eliminating the Houthi threat to US commerce and restoring freedom of navigation," according to a Pentagon statement.

For its part, the Yemeni government affirmed its "monitoring of the movements of elements linked to the Houthi militia in every country and its monitoring of their activities that are harmful to Arab national security."

Yemeni Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Yemeni government "appreciates the concern and interest of our Iraqi brothers."

Al-Eryani called on the Iraqi government to "stand firmly against any media, political, or logistical activity by the Houthi militia on Iraqi soil, and to take clear steps to ensure that Iraq is not used as a platform or haven for any entity that threatens the security of Yemen or the region."

Al-Eryani explained that the Yemeni government "is confident that Iraq will not allow itself to be part of the chaos that Iran seeks to impose through its agents in the region."

Since the beginning of last week, US aircraft have launched a series of raids on the capital, Sanaa, and several other governorates, targeting Houthi positions.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to completely annihilate the Houthis and warned Iran against continuing to support them. However, the group says it will continue targeting US warships in the Red Sea.

Source: The Middle East