Bahrain’s top diplomat discusses Gaza war during Yemen visit

By Aziz Al-Ahmadi

ADEN, Yemen (AA) - Yemen's internationally recognized government welcomed Bahrain’s top diplomat on Thursday for the first visit by a Gulf foreign minister to the country in almost a decade.

Abdullatif Al Zayani, who arrived in Yemen’s temporary capital Aden earlier in the day, met with the Presidential Leadership Council and its Chairman Rashad al-Alimi.

They discussed the latest regional developments, with a particular focus on Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

“Al-Alimi and Al Zayani discussed the latest situation in Yemen and the joint stances of the two countries toward the developments in the region and the challenges facing international peace and security,” Yemen’s official news agency SABA reported.

Al Zayani's visit comes as part of his wider Arab regional tour as Bahrain prepares to host the 33rd Arab Summit on May 16.

Bahrain News Agency reported that the two sides exchanged "views on the current regional situations, the war on the Gaza Strip, and efforts exerted to achieve a cease-fire, protect civilians, and deliver humanitarian aid to the people of the Strip."

Bahrain is a member of a Saudi-led Arab coalition that has backed Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which has been engaged in a civil war with Iran-backed Houthi rebels since March 2015. The Houthis control some key provinces, including the capital Sanaa.

Israel has killed more than 34,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 78,500 others following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year which claimed 1,200 lives.

Over seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in the enclave.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul