Istanbul:Nearly a decade of negotiations with the Houthis has failed to secure a political settlement, Yemen's foreign minister stated, pledging to continue military operations until the country's objectives are achieved and the group is disarmed.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Afrah Al-Zouba accused the Houthis of using periods of calm to build up their arsenal and repeatedly block efforts to end the conflict. The Yemeni government will not accept negotiations that allow the group an opportunity to rearm, she informed journalists in Istanbul.

Al-Zouba referenced the 2016 talks, highlighting that the Houthis refused to sign a proposed agreement after approximately 100 days of negotiations. She also accused them of hindering subsequent peace efforts, including Saudi-backed initiatives that commenced in 2022. She emphasized that Operation 'Dawn of Yemen' would continue 'firmly' until its objectives were achieved.

During her first visit to Türkiye since taking office in July, Al-Zouba met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan earlier on Saturday. Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and other provinces in 2014, leading to a Saudi-led coalition intervention in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government. Currently, the Houthis control much of northern and western Yemen, while government forces and their allies hold Aden and large parts of southern and eastern provinces.