Monthly Briefing / October – 2023

Political scene

Despite ongoing international efforts to address the Yemeni crisis and the issuance of various statements, including one by the European Union that held the Houthi group accountable for the failure to reach a political resolution in Yemen, the United Nations and relevant countries have not made significant progress toward the anticipated path to peace. On the regional front, discussions aimed at achieving a political solution to the Yemeni crisis have been held by the Presidential Council and government officials with counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. Meanwhile, demonstrations and popular movements in Yemen’s different governorates have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned the actions of the Israeli occupation in Gaza, particularly in light of recent events.

• Yemen’s Prime Minister, Maeen Abdulmalik, held discussions with the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Doha. Their talks centered on the latest developments within Yemen and Qatar’s commitment to supporting political resolution efforts in Yemen. October 1
• The Omani Foreign Minister, Badr al-Busaidi, hosted a meeting with the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to deliberate on Yemen’s evolving situation and ongoing political settlement initiatives. This meeting followed the envoy’s recent visit to Qatar, aimed at reinforcing support for the UN’s mediation efforts. October 1
• The Republic of Yemen called for an immediate end to the Israeli occupation’s aggressive actions in Gaza, while expressing unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s aspirations for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. October 7
• Syrian authorities requested the prompt evacuation of the Yemeni embassy in Damascus by representatives of the Houthi group. This action aligns with the prevailing atmosphere of Arab reconciliation led by Saudi Arabia and lays the groundwork for returning the embassy to the legitimate government, with which relations have been severed since 2011. October 10
• Large-scale demonstrations took place in such cities as Taiz, Ibb, Sana’a, Al-Hudaydah and Al-Mukalla, as well as across various governorates. These demonstrations were aimed to condemn the Israeli occupation’s actions in Gaza and show support for the Palestinian people and criticized the prevailing Arab silence concerning the Palestinian cause. October 12
• During a meeting with the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, discussed Yemen’s developments and affirmed support for peace efforts. The minister stressed the necessity of a comprehensive and enduring political resolution, to be overseen by the United Nations. October 18

Military scene

Yemen witnessed an increase in military clashes and regional tensions, with confrontations in Ma’rib, Taiz, the Fifth Military Region and along the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Threats of a return to all-out war were exchanged. Additionally, the Houthi group reported the killing of a second leader, shortly after the death of another leader, raising questions about the group’s internal situation.

• The Yemeni army reported the elimination of several Houthi militia members during a thwarted attack in the western part of Al-Dhalea Governorate in southern Yemen. The army’s defense resulted in seven fatalities and three injuries among the Houthi ranks. October 2
• Major General Sultan Al-Arada, a member of the Presidential Command Council, stated during a meeting with Brigadier General Anthony Hayward, the military advisor to the UN envoy to Yemen, that the government is fully prepared to open roads between Ma’rib and Sana’a within 48 hours if the Houthi group agrees to a similar opening under UN supervision. October 5
• The Houthi group launched a Katyusha missile at a displacement camp in the Al-Mil area, north of Ma’rib, causing material damage to homes and cars. Fortunately, there were no human casualties. This attack coincided with the visit of the UN envoy’s advisor to the governorate. October 5
• The Houthi group confirmed the passing of one of its prominent leaders, Yahya Hassan Al-Madani. However, the group did not disclose any information regarding the circumstances or specifics of his demise. Concurrently, in an undisclosed house within the Yarem District, located to the south of Sana’a, a third individual by the name of Abdul Wahab al-Shami was found in mysterious circumstances. October7
• The city of Taiz marked the 60^th anniversary of the October 14, 1963, revolution, which resulted in the expulsion of the British occupation from southern Yemen, with a military parade. Symbolic units from the military participated, parading through the city’s streets with music and national anthems. October 14.
• Military sources revealed that Houthi missiles, intercepted by the U.S. Navy, were targeting the Yemeni army in a military zone in Yemen. Some of these missiles reached their target in the Fifth Military Zone during the visit of the Chief of Staff to Yemen. October 21

Security scene          

The security situation in both government-controlled and Houthi-controlled areas remained plagued by ongoing security chaos. In the Taiz countryside, there was an assassination attempt on a military commander, while in Sana’a, an attempt to assassinate a judge was reported. The smuggling operations continued unabated, with security forces apprehending a cell attempting to smuggle weapons into Al-Mahra Governorate.

• The United States disclosed the transfer of approximately 1.1 million 7.62 mm shells to Ukraine. These were confiscated from a sailboat that had attempted to smuggle them from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to the Houthi group at the end of the previous year. October 4
• Tragedy struck in Amran Governorate, north of Sana’a, with a devastating explosion. The explosion occurred due to the detonation of a gunpowder (dynamite) store in the house of an arms dealer affiliated with the Houthi group. This tragic incident claimed the lives of 14 people and left around 60 others injured. It also caused extensive damage to about 20 homes, including the complete collapse of five houses. October 18
• In a separate incident, the commander of the Security Belt Forces in Abyan Governorate, Jamil Al-Abdali, was fatally shot in Ahwar District, in southern Yemen. This tragedy resulted from a dispute over debts owed to a merchant from outside the governorate. The Southern Transitional Council vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable and refer them to the relevant authorities. October 19
• The Immigration, Passports and Nationality Service agent in Yemen announced the availability of two million new passport books. They continue to process and issue transactions in Aden Governorate. Since 2016, the authority has issued approximately seven million passports in the liberated areas. October 22
• Security services in Al-Mahra Governorate successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle 250 weapons to Somalia in exchange for monetary sums. Perpetrators of the same nationality were apprehended, and the group is now in custody, awaiting referral to the judicial authorities. October 23

Economic scene:

• Yemeni Airlines Company reported that the Houthi group obstructed its efforts to withdraw funds from banks in Sana’a, citing unjustifiable reasons. The company emphasized its dedication to humanitarian and commercial principles and its neutrality in political conflicts. September 30
• The Presidential Leadership Council returned a controversial communications agreement to the government for further consideration, instructing the government to handle it in accordance with the constitution and the law. The decision followed increasing disagreements within the Leadership Council regarding the fate of the agreement, with members sharply divided between its proponents and opponents. October 26

Violations

• Amnesty International strongly condemned the Houthi forces for arresting numerous peaceful demonstrators in Sana’a, during their commemoration of the September 26 Revolution, and called for their immediate and unconditional release. September 30
• The Houthi group kidnapped Abu Zaid al-Kumaim, the head of the Yemeni Teachers Club, accusing him of “collaboration with the aggressors.” This incident followed the siege of his residence and the terrorization of women and children. Al-Kumaim’s demand to address the issue of teachers’ salaries, which had been withheld for seven years, led to his abduction. October 8.
• Rights Radar for Human Rights urged the Yemeni government to refer the Abdul Malik al-Sanabani murder case to an impartial body for a retrial. The organization expressed astonishment over a court ruling that acquitted four defendants and convicted the fifth of manslaughter, indicating concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the need for justice. October 15

(The crime took place in September 2021 when members of the Transitional Council forces in Lahj Governorate kidnapped and tortured Al-Sanabani to death.)

• The Yemeni government criticized the Save the Children organization for not condemning the Houthi group after the death of its employee, Hisham al-Hakimi, in a group-owned prison, where he had been subjected to torture for two months. The al-Hakimi family refused to receive the body and demanded an autopsy. October 25
• The Houthi group forcibly entered the home of Mubarak Al-Anwa, an employee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana’a, weeks after his kidnapping. They confiscated his computer and his wife’s and children’s phones and caused extensive damage to the residence during the intrusion. October 25
• Save the Children International announced the suspension of its operations in areas under Houthi control in Yemen following the death of Hisham Al-Hakimi, the organizations security and safety official in its Sana’a office, who died while in the custody of the group’s security and intelligence prison. The organization called for an immediate independent investigation into the incident. October 26

Humanitarian scene

• The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations-affiliated agency, reported that more than 27,000 Yemenis were displaced in 2023, due to the ongoing conflict in the country. In 2023, from January to September, a total of 27,600 individuals, corresponding to 4,600 families, were documented as displaced. Ma’rib Governorate witnessed the highest displacement rates, followed by Taiz Governorate, according to data released. October 2
• The United Nations reported that Cyclone Tej, which struck Socotra Island, caused damage to over 600 homes but fortunately did not result in any casualties. The cyclone formed in the Arabian Sea, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to the island. October 25
• The World Health Organization (WHO) disclosed that the number of measles cases among children in Yemen had surged to more than 42,000 during the first nine months of the year, with 514 recorded deaths. This increase was attributed to declining immunization rates, challenging economic conditions and a lack of healthcare resources in the country, according to an announcement. October 25

Statistics

• The Mine Clearance Project in Yemen (Masam) reported that its field teams successfully cleared a total of 730 landmines, unexploded ordnance and explosive devices in the first week of October. This included five antipersonnel mines, 105 anti-tank mines, 617 unexploded ordnance and three explosive devices. Since the launch of the Masam Project in June 2018, the cumulative total of cleared items has reached 417,833 mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive devices in various Yemeni governorates. This update was provided. October 8
• The Ministry of Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the legitimate government released official statistics, indicating that approximately 25,000 civilians were killed and injured by Houthi fire and mines. These figures were presented by the Director General of International Organizations and Reports at the Ministry during a symposium at the headquarters of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, held on the sidelines of the 54th session of the council. The reported casualties occurred between September 21, 2014, and September 30, 2023, with the following breakdown:

• Murders: 11,083 civilians, including 3,205 children and 1,227 women.
• Injuries: 13,732 civilians, including 4,990 children and 2,623 women (resulting from indiscriminate bombings, sniping, bullets, mines and other attacks).
• Abductions, arrests and detentions: 23,474 cases, including 348 women and 1,069 children.
• Enforced disappearances: 2,422 men, 405 women and 159 children.
• Incidents of torture: 16,378 cases encompassing psychological and physical torture, electrocution and infringements on human dignity.
• Deaths in prisons due to torture: 218 individuals. These statistics were presented. October 6