CAIRO (Sputnik) — The National Salvation Alliance comprises over 40 political parties, tribal coalitions and civil groups who are opposing the Houthi militia, who seized power in the country last year.
"The only way to eliminate the influence of al-Qaeda in Yemen is to fill the [power] vacuum in the country," Balikh Mukhalyafi said.
He added that the most important challenge for Yemen at the moment is the fight against Houthis, stressing that the international coalition was forced to carry out airstrikes against them instead of countering al-Qaeda.
"Cooperation with Houthis on this issue [the fight against al-Qaeda] is impossible, since they are a tool in the hands of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who uses them to extend his influence," the politician stressed.
A coalition of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia has been conducting airstrikes in Yemen at the request of Hadi since March, in an attempt to push Houthis out of the areas they have come to control.
Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula and the Islamic State jihadist group have taken advantage of the situation to strengthen their hold in Yemen.
