Latest news with #Yemen
Asharq Al-Awsat
13 hours ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Alimi Praises Saudi Decision to Extend Masam Landmine Clearance Project
President of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi has praised Saudi Arabia's decision to extend the Project Masam contract for landmine clearance in Yemen. Al-Alimi lauded the decision, which includes an extension of the Masam project implementation for an additional year with a budget of $52,994,413. He also commended the leadership of the program and its team, along with all Saudi institutions involved in humanitarian, service, and developmental efforts across various fields. 'This great humanitarian effort by our brothers in the Kingdom, through the Masam project, which has so far removed nearly 500,000 landmines and various explosive devices, embodies a noble fraternal commitment to Yemen and its people, and contributes to alleviating the suffering caused by the war ignited by the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militias,' Al-Alimi said.
Arab News
a day ago
- General
- Arab News
Rights groups call on Houthis to release detained aid workers
DUBAI: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called on Houthis to release dozens of UN and aid workers who have been detained for nearly a year. The arrest and detention of aid workers has 'a direct impact on the delivery of lifesaving assistance to people in critical need of aid' in a country enduring one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, the two rights groups said in a joint statement. Since May 2024, the Houthis have carried out several waves of arrests in regions under their control, targeting UN staff as well as workers in local and international humanitarian organizations. The arrests have prompted the UN to limit its deployments and suspend activities in some regions of the country devastated by more than a decade of civil war. The arrests have prompted the UN to limit its deployments and suspend activities in some regions of Yemen. The Houthis at the time claimed there was an 'American-Israeli spy cell' operating under the cover of aid groups — accusations firmly rejected by the UN. Only seven aid workers have been released, while at least 50 remain in detention 'without adequate access to lawyers or their families, and without charge,' HRW and Amnesty said, calling on the rebels to 'immediately and unconditionally release' them. 'It is shocking that most of these UN and civil society staff have now spent almost a year in arbitrary detention for simply doing their work in providing medical and food assistance or promoting human rights, peace, and dialogue,' said Diala Haidar, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International. 'They should never have been arrested in the first place,' she continued. Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at HRW, meanwhile, said: 'The Houthis need to facilitate the work of humanitarian workers and the movement of aid. 'All countries with influence, as well as the UN and civil society organizations, should use all the tools at their disposal to urge the release of those arbitrarily detained and to provide support to their family members.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Yemen's al-Alimi Criticizes International Concessions Made to the Houthis
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi has described the Houthis as an 'enduring' threat to Yemen, the region and international shipping lanes, and criticized what he termed 'incentives and concessions from certain international actors' made to the militias. During a panel discussion organized by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow on Thursday, al-Alimi stated: We are confronting a sectarian theocratic project that does not recognize the state or the law and is rooted in the ideology of divine right to rule. These are the very ideas Russia has historically opposed in various arenas, in defense of the civil state.' He criticized the lack of an accurate understanding of the Yemeni situation and the prevalence of misleading narratives in some international circles, including certain think tanks and decision-making institutions, which still view Yemen through a blurred lens or as part of a geopolitical conflict solvable through superficial compromises. He identified among these false narratives claims portraying the Houthis as an 'oppressed minority' suitable for political assimilation. 'The truth is we face an armed doctrinal movement grounding its authority in 'divine right' theology, while rejecting all civil state constructs and the principle of equal citizenship,' he said. Al-Alimi deemed even more dangerous the designation of the Houthis as a 'transient threat' linked to the repercussions of the Gaza war. He affirmed this to be a mistaken and misleading perception. He explained that the Houthis are an enduring and structural danger to Yemen, the region, and international shipping lanes. Al-Alimi drew attention to the fact that ship piracy, naval mine deployment, and Red Sea piracy did not begin in 2024, but have been a recurrent Houthi tactic for years. He affirmed that the Houthis' criminal conduct mirrors that of organizations and groups that Moscow itself condemns, including targeting airports and seaports, booby-trapping mosques, schools, and hospitals, suppressing women's rights, child conscription, and militarizing civilian infrastructure. He added: 'Despite all this, the Houthis continue to receive incentives and concessions from certain international actors, while the legitimate government, representing Yemen's constitutional framework, stands accused of weakness or division. This completely ignores the reality that it effectively controls approximately 70% of Yemen's territory and unites all national components under its umbrella.' 'What is required today is restoring the logic of the state against claims of divine guardianship ... while supporting legitimate institutions against illegitimate armed groups. This is the same principle Russia has consistently upheld in its global counterterrorism efforts,' he added. Al- Alimi reaffirmed Yemen's unequivocal position supporting the Palestinian people's right to an independent state and the imperative to halt Israeli aggressions. However, he stressed that this stance cannot be exploited to justify Iran's behavior in the region or to advance its agenda through proxies, as witnessed in Yemen. 'Iran's expansionist policies threaten not only Yemen but also destabilize the entire Red Sea and Horn of Africa region,' he warned. He noted with concern the Houthis' close ties with al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other criminal organizations, entities that share ideological alignment, mutual interests, and logistical cooperation with the group. 'This signals the resurgence of cross-border terrorist networks,' he said. Al-Alimi held talks in Moscow on Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Meet 78-year-old expat who gives Eid Qurbani meat to the poor
As Muslims across the UAE prepare for Eid Al Adha by selecting their sacrificial animals (Qurbani), one retired Indian expatriate is also busy preparing the distribution of livestock in some poor communities in Africa. At 78 years old, Hussain Ahmedali Nalwala is embarking on his fifth year of this charity mission. Eid Al Adha, known as the 'Festival of Sacrifice,' honours the unwavering faith of Prophet Ibrahim. Inspired by this spirit, Nalwala began his journey five years ago after visiting Yemen, where he witnessed heartbreaking levels of poverty. He told Khaleej Times that moment changed the course of his retirement—and he made it his mission to ensure that families in remote, underserved regions could share in the blessings of Eid. Nalwala is a former industrialist and president of Anchor Allied Factory in Sharjah. The Eid charity activities are carried out by The Nalwala Foundation, founded and led by him as the trustee. Since that pivotal trip, Nalwala has arranged the slaughter and distribution of dozens of camels annually across rural areas in Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia. He oversees the process meticulously. His team sends him pictures of the animals for approval, ensuring both ethical sourcing and dignity in distribution. Once approved, the meat is carefully divided and distributed. Long queues form in villages, where people arrive with containers, while the remaining portions are delivered directly to homes in the most remote areas. 'I make sure the animals are healthy and the distribution is fair,' he said. 'Many of these families rarely eat meat... One camel can feed up to 300 families,' Nalwala told Khaleej Times. Nalwala however doesn't limit his meat distribution efforts to Africa. For the past three years, he has also been organising the sacrifice of multiple animals during Eid, with the meat distributed to underserved communities in Kashmir, including areas like Sumbal, Bandipore, Kargil, and beyond. In his hometown of Mumbai, he ensures the slaughter of a number of goats that can feed up to 1,500 people. 'Each act is a reminder to the recipients that they have not been forgotten during the blessed days of Eid,' he said. It is not just during Eid that Nalwala's generosity comes to the forefront. During Diwali, he also distributes sweets and gifts to labourers in worker accommodations across Dubai and Sharjah. In Boisar, Mumbai, he established a senior citizen home through The Nalwala Foundation, providing refuge and dignity to abandoned or struggling elderly individuals. Residents are given meaningful roles—from mentorship to daily operations—fostering a strong sense of community and purpose. This proves for Nalwala that giving is not a seasonal act—it is the foundation of his life. 'We live in great comfort, with food and drink always within reach,' he reflected. 'But Eid is not only about our own tables—it's about ensuring those less fortunate can share in the celebration too. I don't believe in charity as an event. It should be a way of life.'
LBCI
2 days ago
- General
- LBCI
Israel says intercepts missile from Yemen after air raid warning
The Israeli army said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Thursday after air raid sirens sounded in the center of the country, with explosions heard over Jerusalem. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," the army said in a statement. AFP
