Monthly Briefing/February – 2025

February witnessed an escalation in military activity as the Houthi group intensified its artillery and drone attacks across several fronts, including Ma’rib, Al-Jawf and Taiz. The clashes resulted in human and material losses on both sides. Meanwhile, the Houthi targeting U.S. aircraft in the Red Sea added an international dimension to the conflict, met with government threats of a decisive response.  

• The Houthis escalated their military operations in Ma’rib, employing artillery shelling and drones while constructing tunnels, fortifications and new roads. The clashes led to casualties on both sides. February 1 
• A soldier was killed, and four others from the National Army were wounded while fighting Houthi attacks in Raghwan, north of Ma’rib and Al-Jawf. The Houthis used artillery and drones in the assault. February 12  
• Four Houthis were killed and five others injured in clashes with government forces in the Qanaw front, east of Bir Al-Maraziq in Al-Jawf, following a failed infiltration attempt. February 19 
• The Houthis fired surface-to-air missiles at a U.S. F-16 fighter jet over the Red Sea, but the aircraft was not hit. February 19  
• The Houthis targeted an MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen, marking the first attack on an American combat aircraft amid ongoing discussions in Washington about possible responses. February 23
• The Yemeni government forces repelled Houthi attacks in Ma’rib, Al-Jawf and Taiz, striking Houthi artillery positions and heavy equipment. The clashes resulted in casualties, with both sides exchanging artillery fire and deploying drones, despite regional de-escalation efforts. February 23

Yemeni Defense Minister Mohsen Mohammad Al-Daari affirmed the readiness of government forces to decisively settle the battle against the Houthis if a return to war becomes necessary, while maintaining commitment to international agreements. February 26

The Horn of Africa and southern Yemen are witnessing a troubling rise in arms-smuggling operations. Boats loaded with military equipment and missile components bound for the Houthis have been intercepted, alongside drug and fertilizer shipments concealing weapons, further complicating the region’s security and humanitarian situation.

• • Puntland Maritime Police Force in Somalia intercepted a boat carrying military equipment suspected to have originated from Yemen in an operation in Somalia’s Bari region, amid ongoing arms smuggling between the Houthis and the Somali Al-Shabaab movement. February 4
  • The Chinese navy thwarted a potential attack on the commercial vessel Zhou Shan in the Gulf of Aden, deploying a new fleet to escort civilian ships. Meanwhile, Japan warned of a possible surge in piracy if strict international measures are not implemented. February 6  
  • Security forces in Al-Mahra Governorate foiled an attempt to smuggle over five million narcotic pills aboard a ship off the coast. A total of 93 packages of drugs were seized, and six smugglers were arrested. February 12
  • The Guardians of the Republic forces, led by Brigadier General Tareq Saleh, captured nine Iranians and three Pakistanis aboard a sailboat carrying a shipment of fertilizers from Iran to Houthi-controlled ports in Hodeidah. The cargo was found to contain hidden missiles, drones and radar systems. February 12

• Two senior officers from Yemen’s Ministry of Defense survived an assassination attempt in Al-Mahra while inspecting army forces. Their convoy came under gunfire from armed assailants. February 15  

The U.S. Navy’s Clarence Sutphin Jr. intercepted a sailboat in the Arabian Sea coming from Iran. The vessel was carrying weapons bound for the Houthis, including ballistic missile components. February 22

Yemen is grappling with a severe economic crisis, as the Yemeni rial collapsed past 2,400 YER per USD, losing 26% of its value in 2024. This forced exchange companies to halt operations while fuel prices soared. Despite a slight recovery following central bank intervention, Yemen still requires $4 billion to offset losses and $125 billion for reconstruction. Warnings persist over rising inflation and unemployment threatening social stability.

• The Yemeni rial continued to decline against foreign currencies, surpassing 2,400 YER per USD, amid a sharp economic crisis, losing more than 25% of its value in 2024. February 3
• Exchange companies in Aden and government-controlled areas suspended foreign currency transactions following central bank orders due to the unprecedented currency collapse. February 13
• Yemeni Planning Minister Dr. Waed Abdullah Badhib announced that Yemen needs $4 billion to compensate for currency devaluation and $125 billion for reconstruction. February 16
• Fuel prices in the Socotra archipelago rose again, with gasoline reaching 44,000 YER per gallon and cooking gas cylinders 27,000 YER, sparking public outrage. Emirati company ADNOC was accused of market monopolization and deliberate price manipulation. February 18

Also, Planning Minister Dr. Badhib confirmed that Yemen has lost over $250 billion in national revenue, with rising inflation and unemployment, emphasizing the need for international support to achieve sustainable development. February 28

The Houthi group intensified its human rights violations during February, including the killing and torture of civilians, looting of companies and besieging villages in Al-Bayda Governorate. Additionally, the use of landmines and drones continued amid accusations from organizations of potential war crimes and ongoing impunity.

1. 1. A woman was killed in the district of Nehm, east of the capital Sana’a, by the explosion of a Houthi mine while tending to sheep, and her daughter was injured in the incident. This brings the total number of civilian injuries to 113. February 1
   2. The American Center for Justice revealed that Yemeni Abdullah Ali Abdulwahab has been detained in an Emirati prison since 2022, having been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a Facebook post criticizing the UAE’s bombing of Aden several years ago. February 2
   3. The United Nations suspended its operations in Saada (the Houthi stronghold) after its employees were detained and abductions intensified, threatening humanitarian relief efforts in Yemen. February 10 
   4. Amnesty International called for an urgent investigation into the death — due to torture — of a United Nations aid worker in Houthi prisons in Saada,  demanding the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, including UN staff. February 12

• Human Rights Watch stated that the Houthi attack on the village of Hanaka Al-Masoud in Al-Bayda last January is a war crime, as dozens of civilians were killed and injured, and hundreds were arbitrarily detained. The group used drones and heavy weapons in the attack, destroyed homes, looted property, imposed a siege and cut off communications, with no evidence to support their claims of terrorists among the residents. February 13

• The Mothers of Abductees Association condemned the death of World Food Programme employee Ahmed Ba’alawi under torture in Houthi prisons in Saada, 18 days after his abduction, describing it as a “heinous crime”. February 13

• Human rights organization “SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties” revealed in a report that the Houthis carried out “organized looting” through the so-called judicial guardian, seizing opposition-owned companies, including “Modern Medicines” and “Al-Alamiya”, with losses estimated at $55 million. SAM also documented cases of employees’ torture and deaths. February 23 

• Rights Radar called for an independent international investigation into the execution and liquidation of 953 Yemenis between 2014 and 2024, confirming the Houthis’ responsibility for 481 cases, followed by non-governmental factions with 238 cases and Al-Qaeda with 205 cases, where A
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  den, was the most affected governorate. February 23 

UN reports have revealed a worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen, as of February 2025. In December 2024, 64% of families suffered from food insecurity, with food prices increasing by 21% and aid coming to a halt. A total of 277 families have been displaced this year, while 15,000 migrants entered Yemen, and 4,306 Yemenis returned. These figures highlight the deteriorating economic situation and rising displacement, making Yemen a fragile migration hub amid growing relief challenges.

• A UN report stated that 64% of Yemeni families were unable to meet their food needs in December 2024 due to the worsening economic crisis and suspension of aid. The rate of inadequate food consumption reached 67% in government-controlled areas and 63% in Houthi-controlled areas. February 4

• The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the displacement of 277 families (approximately 1,662 individuals) in Yemen from the start of 2025 up to February 15, 2025. Most of the displaced settled in Marib, Hodeidah, and Taiz, with additional displacement from Al-Bayda and Sana’a. February 17

• UN data showed that only 3% of residents in Houthi-controlled areas receive salaries, while 54% rely on temporary labor, reflecting a severe economic crisis. February 23 

The director of displacement camps in Ma’rib, Saif Muthanna, warned that the suspension of USAID assistance threatens relief efforts in Yemen. He stated that Trump’s decision to cut foreign aid has led to the cancellation of vital projects, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis for over 2 million displaced people. February 28