Abdullah Saleh: I Did Not Accept the Proposal to Receive Millions of Dollars from Saudi Arabia

The former president of Yemen has stated that he rejected a multi-million dollar offer from Saudi Arabia to combat the Houthi Shiites. At the same time, eyewitnesses reported intense clashes between Houthi Shiite militants and supporters of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi near Aden. Ali Abdullah Saleh, in an interview with Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen television, said, "Saudi Arabia offered us millions of dollars if we allied with them against the Houthis. But I did not accept this proposal." The former president of Yemen accused Saudi Arabia of creating "sedition" in Yemen and claimed that the Saudi kingdom's "hatred" for the Houthis is rooted in sectarianism. Mr. Saleh, who ruled Yemen for three decades until 2011, was forced to resign following widespread protests in the country. However, he emphasized, "I am not seeking power for myself or my son Ahmed." Ali Abdullah Saleh's son commanded the Yemeni presidential guard during his presidency. According to AFP, despite his resignation, Mr. Saleh remains the leader of the National Congress Party, one of Yemen's most powerful parties, supported by various ethnic groups in the country. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that on Friday, following an attack by Sunni militants on Houthi positions near Aden, severe clashes occurred in the area. According to the report, Houthi militants and supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh have concentrated on areas such as "Khor Maksar," "Karter," and "Ma'ala" in the suburbs of Aden. Aden is considered Yemen's commercial center, and its airport has been closed since the onset of the fighting in the city. According to Reuters, Sunni militants stated that the clashes in the "Khor Maksar" area have so far resulted in at least 15 deaths among the Houthis and four deaths among supporters of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the president of Yemen. A regional coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been conducting airstrikes against Houthi Shiite militants and supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26, with the declared aim of restoring Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to power in the country. Meanwhile, AFP reported that on Thursday, Houthi militants killed the governor of Sana'a during clashes. According to the report, Abdul Ghani Jamil and his nephew refused to surrender to Houthi forces and were killed in the confrontation. Abdul Ghani Jamil had been appointed as the governor of Sana'a by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. The president of Yemen is currently in Saudi Arabia after fleeing from Aden. In this context, at least 45 people were killed in an airstrike on a police center in Sana'a. The Houthis suffered their "first significant defeat" in southern Yemen. A new wave of airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen is underway.