Yemen's Houthis have hijacked an India-bound ship at Red Sea. The ship neither had an Israeli flag, nor was it registered in Israel, so how did the Houthis know the ship is owned by a company with Israeli links? Who supplied Houthis with the intelligence?

Houthi commander visits seized cargo ship, rebels say 'we'll target Israeli ships in the Red Sea'

A US warship patrolling the Red Sea intercepted multiple drones&nbsp;launched from Yemen's Houthi-controlled areas on Thursday (Nov 23), the US Central Command stated. 
 
"On the morning (Yemen time) of November 23, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen," stated CENTCOM, on social media platform X. "The ship and crew sustained no damage or injury," it added. 
 
The Houthis have stated that they are part of an "axis of resistance" of the allies and proxies of Iran retaliating against Israel's war with Hamas. 
 
The Israel-Hamas war has increased the spectre of a broader Middle East conflagration, as the frontier between Israel and Lebanon also witnessing near-daily exchanges of fire. 
 
A series of drones and missiles have been launched by the Houthis in Yemen towards Israel since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/hamas-israel-war-in-israel-inadvertent-confirmation-of-its-nuclear-arsenal-661763">Hamas-Israel war: In Israel, inadvertent confirmation of its nuclear arsenal</a>

On Wednesday, Israel stated that it had intercepted a "cruise missile" which was going towards the country's south, a shot which was claimed by the Huthi rebels. 
 
"Our forces launched missiles at various military targets" in southern Israel, stated Yahia Saree, spokesman for the armed wing of the Huthis, on X. 
 
"We will continue to carry out military operations until the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank stops," he further said.

<h2>Houthis threaten to target Israeli shipping</h2>

The Houthis have further threatened that they will be targeting Israeli shipping and on Sunday stated that the Galaxy Leader, which is an Israel-linked cargo vessel and its 25 international crew, was seized at the Red Sea's entrance. 
 
Israel's military stated that the seizure was a "very grave incident of global consequence", and a US military official said it was "a flagrant violation of international law". 
 
Israel and Hamas on Wednesday (Nov 22) stated that they have agreed on a four-day ceasefire during which a prisoner and hostage swap will be carried out.

Watch:&nbsp;Israel claims it captured Hamas base in Northern Gaza | IDF: No pause in fighting

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Nearly 240 hostages were taken by Hamas and other Palestinian gunmen after they stormed into Israel on October 7, in which 1,200 civilians were also killed, according to Israeli authorities. 
 
The attack followed an Israeli offensive into Hamas-run Gaza in which till now more than 14,000 people have been killed, thousands of them being children.

(With inputs from agencies)

A US warship patrolling the Red Sea intercepted multiple drones launched from Yemen's Houthi-controlled areas on Thursday (Nov 23), the US Central Command stated.

A US warship patrolling the Red Sea intercepted multiple drones launched from Yemen's Houthi-controlled areas on Thursday (Nov 23), the US Central Command stated. "On the morning (Yemen time) of November 23, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen," stated CENTCOM, on social media platform X. "The ship and crew sustained no damage or injury," it added. The Houthis have stated that they are part of an "axis of resistance" of the allies and proxies of Iran retaliating against Israel's war with Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war has increased the spectre of a broader Middle East conflagration, as the frontier between Israel and Lebanon also witnessing near-daily exchanges of fire. A series of drones and missiles have been launched by the Houthis in Yemen towards Israel since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7. Also read: Hamas-Israel war: In Israel, inadvertent confirmation of its nuclear arsenal On Wednesday, Israel stated that it had intercepted a "cruise missile" which was going towards the country's south, a shot which was claimed by the Huthi rebels. "Our forces launched missiles at various military targets" in southern Israel, stated Yahia Saree, spokesman for the armed wing of the Huthis, on X. "We will continue to carry out military operations until the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank stops," he further said. Houthis threaten to target Israeli shipping The Houthis have further threatened that they will be targeting Israeli shipping and on Sunday stated that the Galaxy Leader, which is an Israel-linked cargo vessel and its 25 international crew, was seized at the Red Sea's entrance. Israel's military stated that the seizure was a "very grave incident of global consequence", and a US military official said it was "a flagrant violation of international law". Israel and Hamas on Wednesday (Nov 22) stated that they have agreed on a four-day ceasefire during which a prisoner and hostage swap will be carried out. Watch: Israel claims it captured Hamas base in Northern Gaza | IDF: No pause in fighting Nearly 240 hostages were taken by Hamas and other Palestinian gunmen after they stormed into Israel on October 7, in which 1,200 civilians were also killed, according to Israeli authorities. The attack followed an Israeli offensive into Hamas-run Gaza in which till now more than 14,000 people have been killed, thousands of them being children. (With inputs from agencies)

US warship intercepts and shoots down multiple drones launched from Yemen

The United States is considering designating Yemen's Houthi rebels a terrorist organisation after their militants hijacked an Israel-linked cargo vessel in the Red Sea.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, during a press briefing, said that "in light of... the piracy of a ship in international waters, we have begun a review of potential terrorist designations and we'll be considering other options together with our allies and partners as well."

Kirby called on the rebels to "release that ship immediately, as well as the crew, and unconditionally."

The capture of the Galaxy Leader and its 25 international crew, which took place on Sunday (Nov 19), came days after the Iran-backed Houthis threatened to target Israeli shipping over the Israel-Hamas war.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iceland-volcanic-eruption-may-happen-with-30-minute-warning-met-office-661221">Iceland volcanic eruption may happen with 30-minute warning: Met Office</a>

<h2>Houthi rebels release video of hijacking ship</h2>

Yemen's Iran-backed group on Monday (Nov 20) released a chilling video of the seizure of the Galaxy Leader.

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Footage of Houthi forces hijacking the ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea yesterday. <a href="https://t.co/PSFLpV4FLA">pic.twitter.com/PSFLpV4FLA</a>
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1726641686309400988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The footage, which showed armed men landing on a ship's deck from a helicopter in the southern Red Sea and seizing it, was released by the movement's TV channel Al Masirah a day after the Iran-backed group seized the ship.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-to-release-80-israeli-hostages-in-exchange-for-four-day-pause-in-fighting-report-661241">Hamas to release over 50 Israeli hostages in deal for four-day pause: Report</a>

The vessel's owner, as per news agency Reuters, on Monday (Nov 20) said that the cargo ship was "illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter" on Sunday, Nov 19 and was at present in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen.

"All communications were subsequently lost with the vessel," the Isle of Man registered Galaxy Maritime Ltd, owner of the pure car carrier Galaxy Leader, said in a statement.

"The company, as a shipping concern, will not be commenting further on the political or geopolitical situation."

The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader's crew comprises nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, Galaxy Maritime said. The vessel is chartered by Japan's Nippon Yusen.

"Owners and managers believe the seizure of this vessel represents a gross violation of freedom of passage for the world fleet and a serious threat to international trade," Galaxy Maritime said.

It added that the "key concern at this time is the safety and security of the 25 crew members currently being held by the perpetrators of this criminal act".

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States is considering designating Yemen's Houthi rebels a terrorist organisation after their militants hijacked an Israel-linked cargo vessel in the Red Sea.

The United States is considering designating Yemen's Houthi rebels a terrorist organisation after their militants hijacked an Israel-linked cargo vessel in the Red Sea. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, during a press briefing, said that "in light of... the piracy of a ship in international waters, we have begun a review of potential terrorist designations and we'll be considering other options together with our allies and partners as well." Kirby called on the rebels to "release that ship immediately, as well as the crew, and unconditionally." The capture of the Galaxy Leader and its 25 international crew, which took place on Sunday (Nov 19), came days after the Iran-backed Houthis threatened to target Israeli shipping over the Israel-Hamas war. Also read: Iceland volcanic eruption may happen with 30-minute warning: Met Office Houthi rebels release video of hijacking ship Yemen's Iran-backed group on Monday (Nov 20) released a chilling video of the seizure of the Galaxy Leader. Footage of Houthi forces hijacking the ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea yesterday. pic.twitter.com/PSFLpV4FLA — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) November 20, 2023 × The footage, which showed armed men landing on a ship's deck from a helicopter in the southern Red Sea and seizing it, was released by the movement's TV channel Al Masirah a day after the Iran-backed group seized the ship. Also read: Hamas to release over 50 Israeli hostages in deal for four-day pause: Report The vessel's owner, as per news agency Reuters, on Monday (Nov 20) said that the cargo ship was "illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter" on Sunday, Nov 19 and was at present in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen. "All communications were subsequently lost with the vessel," the Isle of Man registered Galaxy Maritime Ltd, owner of the pure car carrier Galaxy Leader, said in a statement. "The company, as a shipping concern, will not be commenting further on the political or geopolitical situation." The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader's crew comprises nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, Galaxy Maritime said. The vessel is chartered by Japan's Nippon Yusen. "Owners and managers believe the seizure of this vessel represents a gross violation of freedom of passage for the world fleet and a serious threat to international trade," Galaxy Maritime said. It added that the "key concern at this time is the safety and security of the 25 crew members currently being held by the perpetrators of this criminal act". (With inputs from agencies)

US considers designating Yemen's Houthis a terrorist organisation after cargo ship seizure

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they hijacked the ship over its connection to Israel and would continue to target ships in international waters that were linked to or owned by Israelis until the end of Israel's campaign against Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Yemen's Houthis seize cargo ship in Red Sea; how did they manage to hijack a ship? | WION

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down a US military drone, news agencies have reported citing US officials. Houthi rebels in the past have shot down American drones, but the latest incident has taken place just when the situation in the Middle East is tense due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Houthi rebels have claimed that the American MQ-9 Reaper drone war spying as part of the USA's help to Israel in the ongoing war, reported AFP.

"A US military MQ-9 remotely-piloted aircraft was shot down off the coast of Yemen by Houthi forces," AFP quoted an unnamed US official.

Houthi rebels captured Yemen's capital Sanaa in the year 2014. They still control a large part of the country. The rebels had claimed responsibility for shooting down the US drone earlier on Wednesday.

Watch | Israel-Hamas war: IDF releases video of tunnel destruction: Gaza

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"Our air defences were able to down an American MQ-9 while it was carrying out hostile surveillance and espionage activities in Yemeni territorial waters as part of American military support&nbsp;for Israel," the Houthis said in a statement as reported by AFP.

Houthi rebels have staged attacks against Israel in recent weeks. The US Navy has also intercepted missiles fired by the rebels. After Hamas' October 7 attack, the US rushed military help to Israel and boosted US forces stationed in the region.

<h2>US strikes Iranian site in Syria</h2>

The US has carried out strikes against a weapons storage facility used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria. On Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the strikes were carried out in response to attacks on US forces in the region.

After the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, there have been at least 40 attacks on US and coalition troops in Syria and Iraq by forces which are backed by Iran.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-falls-short-of-calling-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-as-israel-hamas-war-rages-on-656560">G7 nations fall short of calling for ceasefire in Gaza as Israel-Hamas war rages on</a>

In his statement, Austin said that attacks against American troops must stop.

"If attacks by Iran's proxies against U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people," Austin added.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-mr-security-hes-mr-bullst-former-israeli-pm-slams-netanyahus-plans-for-post-war-gaza-656618">Not ‘Mr Security. He’s Mr Bulls**t’: Former Israeli PM slams Netanyahu’s plans for post-war Gaza</a>

He said that the fresh airstrikes in Syria were carried out by two F-15 fighter jets.

The US has often launched retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed elements in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down a US military drone, news agencies have reported citing US officials. Houthi rebels in the past have shot down American drones, but the latest incident has taken place just when the situation in the Middle East is tense due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down a US military drone, news agencies have reported citing US officials. Houthi rebels in the past have shot down American drones, but the latest incident has taken place just when the situation in the Middle East is tense due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Houthi rebels have claimed that the American MQ-9 Reaper drone war spying as part of the USA's help to Israel in the ongoing war, reported AFP. "A US military MQ-9 remotely-piloted aircraft was shot down off the coast of Yemen by Houthi forces," AFP quoted an unnamed US official. Houthi rebels captured Yemen's capital Sanaa in the year 2014. They still control a large part of the country. The rebels had claimed responsibility for shooting down the US drone earlier on Wednesday. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: IDF releases video of tunnel destruction: Gaza × "Our air defences were able to down an American MQ-9 while it was carrying out hostile surveillance and espionage activities in Yemeni territorial waters as part of American military support for Israel," the Houthis said in a statement as reported by AFP. Houthi rebels have staged attacks against Israel in recent weeks. The US Navy has also intercepted missiles fired by the rebels. After Hamas' October 7 attack, the US rushed military help to Israel and boosted US forces stationed in the region. US strikes Iranian site in Syria The US has carried out strikes against a weapons storage facility used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria. On Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the strikes were carried out in response to attacks on US forces in the region. After the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, there have been at least 40 attacks on US and coalition troops in Syria and Iraq by forces which are backed by Iran. Also Read | G7 nations fall short of calling for ceasefire in Gaza as Israel-Hamas war rages on In his statement, Austin said that attacks against American troops must stop. "If attacks by Iran's proxies against U.S. forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people," Austin added. Also Read | Not ‘Mr Security. He’s Mr Bulls**t’: Former Israeli PM slams Netanyahu’s plans for post-war Gaza He said that the fresh airstrikes in Syria were carried out by two F-15 fighter jets. The US has often launched retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed elements in the region. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran-backed Houthi rebels shoot down US drone off Yemen

Iran-backed Houthis announced that they joined this fight against Israel on the 31st of October. Part of the axis of resistance, the Houthis announced they had fired drones and missiles at Israeli targets.

Israel-Palestine War: Houthis join the fight against Israel

Yemen's Iran bread Houthis have joined the war against Israel. They have claimed to have launched a large number of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel which is locked in a war against Hamas in Gaza. To know more watch this interview with a war correspondent & security analyst Mohammed Najib.

Israel-Palestine war: Airstrikes impacts nearly three largest hospitals in Gaza city

Yemen's Iran bread Houthis have joined the war against Israel. They have claimed to have launched a large number of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel which is locked in a war against Hamas in Gaza.

Israel-Palestine war | Israel: Destroyed surface-to-surface from Red Sea

Yemen's Houthis have now joined the war against Israel. They have claimed to have launched a large number of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel.

Israel-Palestine war: After Lebanon, Yemen enters war; Houthis attack Israel to support Hamas | WION

Yemen rebel group, Houthis, join war against Israel; 'Part of axis of resistance', say Houthis

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired drones toward Israel on Tuesday (Oct 31) in retaliation for its conflict with the Palestinian terror group Hamas, the agency AFP reported citing a senior official from the group.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired drones toward Israel on Tuesday (Oct 31) in retaliation for its conflict with the Palestinian terror group Hamas, the agency AFP reported citing a senior official from the group. Abdelaziz bin Habtour, prime minister of the Houthi government said that these drones belonged to Yemen. Habtour added that the rebels are "part of the axis of resistance" against Israel and are fighting with "words and drones." The prime minister also said that Houthis would release a statement later in the day with more details of their involvement in the "resistance" against Israel. Earlier, the Israeli reported a "hostile aircraft intrusion" that set off warning sirens in the area of Eilat. Speaking to reporters, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari, "There is no threat in this region and no danger." Second drone attack in less than a week AFP reported on Tuesday that Israel blamed Houthis for a similar drone attack last Friday (Oct 27) in which its aircraft intercepted "hostile targets" headed for southern Israel. Six people in Egypt suffered minor injuries when debris hit a building in the Sinai resort of Taba, just across the border from Eilat, the Egyptian army said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Israel-Hamas war On October 19, the US Navy said it shot down three land-attack cruise missiles and "several" drones that had been fired by the Houthis, possibly at Israel. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7. Since then, Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed more than 8,300 people have been in Gaza. As this conflict escalates, there are concerns over a regional conflagration especially as Iran has loyalists and proxy fighters in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. There have been daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. Israeli military steps up Gaza incursion On Tuesday, the Israeli military pushed deeper into Gaza driving tanks and armoured bulldozers through the rubble of shattered buildings, scouring for Hamas militants. Army footage showed soldiers advancing through a bomb-scarred landscape. Also read: Jewish students at Cornell University receive death threats, police deployed for safety The military said it had struck 300 targets during the fourth night of land operations in Gaza. This comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed mounting international calls for a ceasefire. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel-Hamas war: Houthi rebels fire drones toward Israel in retaliation for its conflict with Hamas

Climate change is threatening Yemen’s sea turtles. Warmer beaches and rising temperature have skewed the sex ratio among these turtles. According to experts, this may lead to the extinction of local turtles. Due to the temperature rise, more female turtles are being born. With sands made hotter by human-induced climate change, eggs are rarely yielding male turtles, creating a major gap in sex ratio.

Human-induced climate change threatens Yemen turtles

Eighteen Indian sailors stranded in violence-hit Yemen were brought back to India on Saturday (September 23).

The regional passport office in Mumbai took to its official social media handle 'X' and shared a post informing that the sailors had landed safely in the city.

"18 distressed Indian sailors stuck in Yemen brought back through relentless efforts of #MEA and Indian Embassies," it said.

"The seamen landed in Mumbai. Team MEA on the ground to facilitate arrival," it added.

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MEA🇮🇳 does it again! 
 
18 distressed Indian sailors stuck in Yemen brought back through relentless efforts of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MEA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MEA</a> and Indian Embassies. 
 
The seamen landed in Mumbai. Team MEA on ground to facilitate arrival.<a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/indiaindjibouti?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@indiaindjibouti</a><a href="https://twitter.com/IndianEmbRiyadh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianEmbRiyadh</a> <a href="https://t.co/dnU8m8cxWQ">pic.twitter.com/dnU8m8cxWQ</a>
— RPO Mumbai (@rpomumbai) <a href="https://twitter.com/rpomumbai/status/1705539791985786980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

As per news agency PTI reports, it is not yet clear as to how long the sailors were stranded in Yemen. The Indian embassy in Riyadh wrote on 'X' that the sailors had reached Aden on Friday (September 22) after relentless efforts by New Delhi for weeks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nia-seizes-sfj-chief-gurpatwant-singh-pannus-amritsar-and-chandigarh-properties-638875">NIA confiscates SFJ chief Gurpatwant Pannu’s Amritsar, Chandigarh properties</a>

"With the relentless efforts of our Embassies in Riyadh &amp; Dijibouti, for the past few weeks, 18 Indian sailors stuck at Nishtun Port finally reached Aden safely today," it said late Friday.

It further added: "We thank the Yemen Govt &amp; all local friends for their full support."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Eighteen Indian sailors stranded in violence-hit Yemen were brought back to India on Saturday (September 23). The regional passport office in Mumbai took to its official social media handle 'X' and shared a post informing that the sailors had landed safely in the city.

Eighteen Indian sailors stranded in violence-hit Yemen were brought back to India on Saturday (September 23). The regional passport office in Mumbai took to its official social media handle 'X' and shared a post informing that the sailors had landed safely in the city. "18 distressed Indian sailors stuck in Yemen brought back through relentless efforts of #MEA and Indian Embassies," it said. "The seamen landed in Mumbai. Team MEA on the ground to facilitate arrival," it added. MEA🇮🇳 does it again! 18 distressed Indian sailors stuck in Yemen brought back through relentless efforts of #MEA and Indian Embassies. The seamen landed in Mumbai. Team MEA on ground to facilitate arrival.@MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia @indiaindjibouti@IndianEmbRiyadh pic.twitter.com/dnU8m8cxWQ — RPO Mumbai (@rpomumbai) September 23, 2023 × As per news agency PTI reports, it is not yet clear as to how long the sailors were stranded in Yemen. The Indian embassy in Riyadh wrote on 'X' that the sailors had reached Aden on Friday (September 22) after relentless efforts by New Delhi for weeks. Also read: NIA confiscates SFJ chief Gurpatwant Pannu’s Amritsar, Chandigarh properties "With the relentless efforts of our Embassies in Riyadh & Dijibouti, for the past few weeks, 18 Indian sailors stuck at Nishtun Port finally reached Aden safely today," it said late Friday. It further added: "We thank the Yemen Govt & all local friends for their full support." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

18 Indian sailors stranded in violence-hit Yemen brought back

As they continue ceasefire talks with Riyadh, the Houthi movement in Yemen sent a message to their enemies in a coalition led by Saudi Arabia on Thursday by showcasing armed drones and ballistic missiles in a major military parade in Sanaa.

Yemen Houthis flex military muscle in parade as Riyadh seeks ceasefire

Saudi Arabia welcomed positive results from discussions to reach a road map supporting the peace process in Yemen, the kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, after Houthi negotiators’ talks with the Saudis in Riyadh.

Houthi envoys left Riyadh on Tuesday after a five-day round of talks with Saudi officials on ending the eight-year-old conflict in Yemen, sources familiar with the meeting and Houthi media said.

The kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue among all warring parties in Yemen, the Saudi defence minister said on Wednesday after meeting with the Houthi delegation.

“I emphasised the Kingdom’s support for Yemen and reaffirmed our commitment to promoting dialogue among all parties to reach a comprehensive political solution under UN supervision,” Prince Khalid bin Salman said in a post on messaging platform X.

Houthi envoys left Riyadh on Tuesday after a five-day round of talks with Saudi officials on a potential agreement paving the way to put an end to the eight-year-old conflict in Yemen, sources familiar with the meeting and Houthi media said.

Some progress has been made on the main sticking points, including a timeline for foreign troops exiting Yemen and a mechanism for paying public wages, two sources said, adding the sides would meet for more talks after consultations “soon.”

The Houthi delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia last week. It was the first such official visit to the kingdom since the war broke out in Yemen in 2014 after the Iran-aligned group ousted a Saudi-backed government there.

The talks are focused on a full reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, payment of wages for public servants, rebuilding efforts, and a timeline for foreign forces to quit Yemen. An agreement would allow the United Nations to restart a broader political peace process.

The Houthis have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and left 80% of Yemen’s population dependent on humanitarian aid.

The United States has put pressure on its ally Saudi Arabia to end the war and linked some U.S. military support to the kingdom to ending its involvement in Yemen.

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Saudi Arabia welcomed positive results from discussions to reach a road map supporting the peace process in Yemen, the kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, after Houthi negotiators’ talks with the Saudis in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia welcomed positive results from discussions to reach a road map supporting the peace process in Yemen, the kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, after Houthi negotiators’ talks with the Saudis in Riyadh. Houthi envoys left Riyadh on Tuesday after a five-day round of talks with Saudi officials on ending the eight-year-old conflict in Yemen, sources familiar with the meeting and Houthi media said. The kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue among all warring parties in Yemen, the Saudi defence minister said on Wednesday after meeting with the Houthi delegation. “I emphasised the Kingdom’s support for Yemen and reaffirmed our commitment to promoting dialogue among all parties to reach a comprehensive political solution under UN supervision,” Prince Khalid bin Salman said in a post on messaging platform X. Houthi envoys left Riyadh on Tuesday after a five-day round of talks with Saudi officials on a potential agreement paving the way to put an end to the eight-year-old conflict in Yemen, sources familiar with the meeting and Houthi media said. Some progress has been made on the main sticking points, including a timeline for foreign troops exiting Yemen and a mechanism for paying public wages, two sources said, adding the sides would meet for more talks after consultations “soon.” The Houthi delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia last week. It was the first such official visit to the kingdom since the war broke out in Yemen in 2014 after the Iran-aligned group ousted a Saudi-backed government there. The talks are focused on a full reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, payment of wages for public servants, rebuilding efforts, and a timeline for foreign forces to quit Yemen. An agreement would allow the United Nations to restart a broader political peace process. The Houthis have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and left 80% of Yemen’s population dependent on humanitarian aid. The United States has put pressure on its ally Saudi Arabia to end the war and linked some U.S. military support to the kingdom to ending its involvement in Yemen. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Saudi Arabia welcomes positive results of talks to support peace process in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has invited a Houthi delegation to Riyadh for talks on a Yemen ceasefire. Watch the video to know more.

Saudi Arabia invites Yemen's Houthi delegation to Riyadh for ceasefire talks

#thewestasiapost | Yemen's old city was once a sprawling tourist hub. With a history dating back over 2500 years, this part of the Yemeni capital has seen it all - from pre-Islamic to Ottoman eras. Unfortunately, these red sandstone buildings that once stood tall are withering away. @ghadifrancis gets you more

Yemeni Capital: One of the oldest cities

A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Saudi border guards of undertaking mass killings of migrants along the Yemeni border. The report claims that hundreds of migrants, the majority of them being Ethiopians, were gunned down while attempting to cross war-torn Yemen to reach Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

The 73-page report titled "They Fired On Us Like Rain" contains the testimony of the migrants who say they were shot at using guns and targeted using explosive weapons as well. The&nbsp;Saudi border guards did not even spare women and children and often took sadistic pleasure&nbsp;in asking migrants, what limb they wanted to get shot at, the report claims.&nbsp;

To publish the report, HRW interviewed as many as 42 migrants, including 38 Ethiopians who attempted to cross the Yemen-Saudi border between&nbsp;March 2022 and June 2023. The organisation also analysed over 350 videos and photographs posted on social media and other sources.

“I saw people killed in a way I have never imagined,” Hamdiya.&nbsp;I saw 30 killed people on the spot,"&nbsp;Hamdiya, a 14-year-old girl who crossed the border, told the researchers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Notably, the deadly attacks on Ethiopians continue despite over&nbsp;750,000 of them living and working in Saudi Arabia. While a significant portion of Ethiopians migrate for&nbsp;economic reasons, a number of them have fled because of serious human rights abuses in the country, including during the recent, brutal armed conflict in the north.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/war-in-yemen-may-be-over-peace-still-needs-to-be-won-587069">Also read |&nbsp;War in Yemen may be over, peace still needs to be won</a>

<h2>Never seen such violence: Researchers&nbsp;</h2>

The researchers at the institute said it is impossible to know the precise number of migrants killed but gave a ballpark figure of over 650.&nbsp;

“Spending billions buying up professional golf, football clubs, and major entertainment events to improve the Saudi image should not deflect attention from these horrendous crimes,"&nbsp;said Nadia Hardman, refugee and migrant rights researcher at the institute.&nbsp;

“I cover violence at borders, but I have never come across something of this nature, the use of explosive weapons including against women and children,” she added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/migration-through-panamas-perilous-darien-gap-hits-all-time-high-627095">Watch |&nbsp;Migration through Panama's perilous Darien Gap hits all-time high</a>

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<h2>Report matches the UN version</h2>

The report corroborates the letter written by the&nbsp;UN Special Rapporteurs to the Saudi government last year. The letter alleged the killing of hundreds of migrants during a period of four months in 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We have received concerning allegations of cross-border artillery shelling and small arms fire allegedly by Saudi security forces causing the deaths of up to 430 and injuring 650 migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, in Sa'dah governorate, Yemen, and Jizan province, Saudi Arabia, between 1 January and 30 April 2022," read the letter.&nbsp;

At the time, the Saudi government said it took the allegations seriously but strongly rejected them.&nbsp;

"Based on the limited information provided, authorities within the Kingdom have discovered no information or evidence to confirm or substantiate the allegations," the kingdom said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Saudi border guards of undertaking mass killings of migrants along the Yemeni border. The report claims that hundreds of migrants, the majority of them being Ethiopians, were gunned down while attempting to cross war-torn Yemen to reach Saudi Arabia.

A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Saudi border guards of undertaking mass killings of migrants along the Yemeni border. The report claims that hundreds of migrants, the majority of them being Ethiopians, were gunned down while attempting to cross war-torn Yemen to reach Saudi Arabia. The 73-page report titled "They Fired On Us Like Rain" contains the testimony of the migrants who say they were shot at using guns and targeted using explosive weapons as well. The Saudi border guards did not even spare women and children and often took sadistic pleasure in asking migrants, what limb they wanted to get shot at, the report claims. To publish the report, HRW interviewed as many as 42 migrants, including 38 Ethiopians who attempted to cross the Yemen-Saudi border between March 2022 and June 2023. The organisation also analysed over 350 videos and photographs posted on social media and other sources. “I saw people killed in a way I have never imagined,” Hamdiya. I saw 30 killed people on the spot," Hamdiya, a 14-year-old girl who crossed the border, told the researchers. Notably, the deadly attacks on Ethiopians continue despite over 750,000 of them living and working in Saudi Arabia. While a significant portion of Ethiopians migrate for economic reasons, a number of them have fled because of serious human rights abuses in the country, including during the recent, brutal armed conflict in the north. Also read | War in Yemen may be over, peace still needs to be won Never seen such violence: Researchers The researchers at the institute said it is impossible to know the precise number of migrants killed but gave a ballpark figure of over 650. “Spending billions buying up professional golf, football clubs, and major entertainment events to improve the Saudi image should not deflect attention from these horrendous crimes," said Nadia Hardman, refugee and migrant rights researcher at the institute. “I cover violence at borders, but I have never come across something of this nature, the use of explosive weapons including against women and children,” she added. Watch | Migration through Panama's perilous Darien Gap hits all-time high × Report matches the UN version The report corroborates the letter written by the UN Special Rapporteurs to the Saudi government last year. The letter alleged the killing of hundreds of migrants during a period of four months in 2022. "We have received concerning allegations of cross-border artillery shelling and small arms fire allegedly by Saudi security forces causing the deaths of up to 430 and injuring 650 migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, in Sa'dah governorate, Yemen, and Jizan province, Saudi Arabia, between 1 January and 30 April 2022," read the letter. At the time, the Saudi government said it took the allegations seriously but strongly rejected them. "Based on the limited information provided, authorities within the Kingdom have discovered no information or evidence to confirm or substantiate the allegations," the kingdom said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hundreds of migrants crossing border killed by Saudi Arabia, claims report

Five staffers of the United Nations (UN), who were kidnapped 18 months ago, have been released, the UN said on Friday (August 11). Four of these staffers are from Yemen and one is from Bangladesh.

Five staffers of the United Nations (UN), who were kidnapped 18 months ago, have been released, the UN said on Friday (August 11). Four of these staffers are from Yemen and one is from Bangladesh. UN Secretary-General Guterres welcomed their release. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the UN's top official in Yemen David Gressly met with the staffers and joined them for a meeting with the head of Yemen's Southern Transitional Council, whose forces helped secure the hostages' release. 'Staffers in very good health, spirits' Speaking to reporters, Gressly said the staffers were in very good health and good spirits, despite everything that they went through. "But they went through a very difficult period of 18 months of isolation," he added. The staffers were kidnapped in February last year by Yemen-based Al Qaeda (AQAP) in the Arabian Peninsula which has used the conflict between a Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthis to enhance its influence. Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Houthis ousted the government from the capital Sanaa in late 2014. The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition intervened in 2015, aiming to restore the government. On Friday, Gressly warned that AQAP was an increasing threat. UN completes removal of oil from decaying tanker In other news from Yemen, the UN said on Friday that it completed the removal of more than 1 million barrels of oil from the decaying Safer tanker off the Red Sea coast, averting a potential environmental disaster. "It is a major moment of having averted a potentially catastrophic disaster," said Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme, which coordinated complex efforts to remove the oil from the ship. Salvage crews operated for more than two weeks amid high summer temperatures and strong currents, to offload the oil from the vessel. Steiner said the UN raised more than $120 million for the operation. "It was literally until the last minutes that we looked at this operation as one that had to ensure the highest degree of preparedness for risk mitigation. The best end to the story will be when that oil actually is sold and leaves the region altogether," the administrator added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Five UN staffers freed 18 months after being kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in Yemen

The United Nations has begun work on the oil tanker in the red sea. For years the crises battered country feared a ticking ecological bomb, one that was decaying off its coast. A high-stakes operation is underway to remove over a million barrels of oil from the safer tanker. Ghadi Francis gets you more.

UN begins oil transfer from Yemen tanker

In its bid to prevent a disastrous spill, the United Nations on Tuesday released a statement saying that it had commenced the process of transferring one million barrels of oil from a super-tanker, that was rusting, off the war-torn country Yemen.

"The United Nations has begun an operation to defuse what might be the world's largest ticking time bomb," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.&nbsp;

"A complex maritime salvage effort is now underway in the Red Sea off the coast of war-torn Yemen to transfer one million barrels of oil from the decaying FSO Safer to a replacement vessel."&nbsp;

Taking to social media, the United Nations resident coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, said that the transfer of 1.14 million barrels of Marib light crude from the 47-year-old FSO Safer to the new vessel will most likely take "less than three weeks".

<h2>Success is far from certain, say experts</h2>

According to experts, factors like soaring temperatures, old pipelines and sea mines loitering in surrounding waters, pose a grave threat to the success of the operation.

"Because it is the start of the emergency phase of the project to remove the oil, we need to be very cautious," Sarah Bel, spokeswoman for the UN Development Programme, told reporters in Geneva.

The United Nations hopes that the operation, worth &nbsp;$143 million, will obliterate the risk of an environmental tragedy, that if occurs, will on an estimate cost $20 billion to clean up.&nbsp;

Considering the Safer's position in the Red Sea, a spill would also cost billions of dollars per day as it would cause shipping disruptions through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Suez Canal, and would also destroy ecosystems, coastal fishing communities and lifeline ports.&nbsp;

The Safer, which is a floating storage and offloading facility, has been tied up around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the port of Hodeida since the 1980s.&nbsp;

The storage has not been serviced since the war broke out, which happened nearly eight years ago between Yemen's Huthi rebels, who regulate the capital Sanaa and the waters where the Safer is placed, and a Saudi-led alliance supporting the internationally recognised government based in the southern Yemeni city of Aden.&nbsp;

The rusting tanker is holding four times as much oil as was spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-that-killed-one-in-uae-619232">Explained | What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection detected in a UAE man?</a>

<h2>Even if the transfer succeeds, Safer will still pose a threat, warns UN</h2>

For years now, a scaffolding crew of workers on the ship, which at any given time were merely around seven or eight, were the ones who made efforts to prevent any kind of leakage or on-board detonation that would send a thin slick of oil across the Red Sea.&nbsp;

In the month of March, the United Nations bought a replacement vessel, dubbed Nautica, with an aim to get the oil out of Safer.

Experts from the private company SMIT Salvage were called two months later to analyse if the Safer could resist the transfer operation.&nbsp;

Last week, the United Nations engaged in a symbolic handover of the Nautica to "the people of Yemen", though the shipping company Euronav will continue to assist it on the UN's behalf for at least six months.&nbsp;

The United Nations also released a warning saying that even if the transfer successfully takes place, the Safer "will pose a residual environmental threat, holding viscous oil residue and remaining at risk of breaking apart."

Disputes are also expected over the ownership of the oil and the Nautica.

But as per some people, the Safer crisis is a positive sign.

"I hope it will be the beginning of the peace process," news agency AFP quotes Fathi Fahem, the Yemeni business leader who first put forward the idea of a replacement vessel for the Safer two years ago, as saying.

In what United Nations calls one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, thousands of people have lost their lives in the battle in Yemen or from factors such as lack of food and water.

Yet clashes between the Iran-backed Huthis and the Saudi-led coalition have reduced sharply since a UN-brokered truce began in April last year, even though it lapsed in October.&nbsp;

UN's Gressly said in a conversation with news agency AFP that the collaboration over the Safer could help pave the way for an enduring ceasefire between Yemen's clashing parties.&nbsp;

"Any time that you have an initiative, a project, where all parties need to cooperate, it's a positive sign that can be used and built upon," AFP quoted UN's Gressly as saying.&nbsp;

"But there's much work to be done to achieve peace here, many issues still outstanding. This issue by itself won't solve those."

(With inputs from agencies) 
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In its bid to prevent a disastrous spill, the United Nations on Tuesday released a statement saying that it had commenced the process of transferring one million barrels of oil from a super-tanker, that was rusting, off the war-torn country Yemen.

In its bid to prevent a disastrous spill, the United Nations on Tuesday released a statement saying that it had commenced the process of transferring one million barrels of oil from a super-tanker, that was rusting, off the war-torn country Yemen. "The United Nations has begun an operation to defuse what might be the world's largest ticking time bomb," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. "A complex maritime salvage effort is now underway in the Red Sea off the coast of war-torn Yemen to transfer one million barrels of oil from the decaying FSO Safer to a replacement vessel." Taking to social media, the United Nations resident coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, said that the transfer of 1.14 million barrels of Marib light crude from the 47-year-old FSO Safer to the new vessel will most likely take "less than three weeks". Success is far from certain, say experts According to experts, factors like soaring temperatures, old pipelines and sea mines loitering in surrounding waters, pose a grave threat to the success of the operation. "Because it is the start of the emergency phase of the project to remove the oil, we need to be very cautious," Sarah Bel, spokeswoman for the UN Development Programme, told reporters in Geneva. The United Nations hopes that the operation, worth $143 million, will obliterate the risk of an environmental tragedy, that if occurs, will on an estimate cost $20 billion to clean up. Considering the Safer's position in the Red Sea, a spill would also cost billions of dollars per day as it would cause shipping disruptions through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Suez Canal, and would also destroy ecosystems, coastal fishing communities and lifeline ports. The Safer, which is a floating storage and offloading facility, has been tied up around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the port of Hodeida since the 1980s. The storage has not been serviced since the war broke out, which happened nearly eight years ago between Yemen's Huthi rebels, who regulate the capital Sanaa and the waters where the Safer is placed, and a Saudi-led alliance supporting the internationally recognised government based in the southern Yemeni city of Aden. The rusting tanker is holding four times as much oil as was spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska. Also read: Explained | What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection detected in a UAE man? Even if the transfer succeeds, Safer will still pose a threat, warns UN For years now, a scaffolding crew of workers on the ship, which at any given time were merely around seven or eight, were the ones who made efforts to prevent any kind of leakage or on-board detonation that would send a thin slick of oil across the Red Sea. In the month of March, the United Nations bought a replacement vessel, dubbed Nautica, with an aim to get the oil out of Safer. Experts from the private company SMIT Salvage were called two months later to analyse if the Safer could resist the transfer operation. Last week, the United Nations engaged in a symbolic handover of the Nautica to "the people of Yemen", though the shipping company Euronav will continue to assist it on the UN's behalf for at least six months. The United Nations also released a warning saying that even if the transfer successfully takes place, the Safer "will pose a residual environmental threat, holding viscous oil residue and remaining at risk of breaking apart." Disputes are also expected over the ownership of the oil and the Nautica. But as per some people, the Safer crisis is a positive sign. "I hope it will be the beginning of the peace process," news agency AFP quotes Fathi Fahem, the Yemeni business leader who first put forward the idea of a replacement vessel for the Safer two years ago, as saying. In what United Nations calls one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, thousands of people have lost their lives in the battle in Yemen or from factors such as lack of food and water. Yet clashes between the Iran-backed Huthis and the Saudi-led coalition have reduced sharply since a UN-brokered truce began in April last year, even though it lapsed in October. UN's Gressly said in a conversation with news agency AFP that the collaboration over the Safer could help pave the way for an enduring ceasefire between Yemen's clashing parties. "Any time that you have an initiative, a project, where all parties need to cooperate, it's a positive sign that can be used and built upon," AFP quoted UN's Gressly as saying. "But there's much work to be done to achieve peace here, many issues still outstanding. This issue by itself won't solve those." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Race against time to prevent oil tanker ecological catastrophe

For over 30 years United Nations has been warning that the Red Sea in Yemen's coastline is at risk and the risk is over the possibility of an oil spill from the decaying super tanker.

UN starts removing oil from decaying tanker stranded off Yemen coast for 30 years

A team of international experts has launched an effort to transfer more than one million barrels of oil from an abandoned tanker before it spills off Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

Yemen Oil Tanker at risk: An Operation to avert a massive spill

War-torn yemen is facing the devastating impacts of climate change, and recently, even its precious commodity, honey, is being severely affected

Yemen’s honey production takes a hit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed human rights with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The trip is aimed at boosting ties with a long time ally which has forged closer relationship with Washington's rivals.

Antony Blinken meets Mohammed bin Salman, focus on Sudan & Yemen conflicts

UN has kicked with its operation to transfer oil from Yemen's corroding vessel 'safer' stranded in red sea . The oil tanker contains 1.1 million barrels of crude oil which is four times as much as oil spilled in 1989 exxon valdez oil disaster off the Alaska coast.

'Safer' vessel running out of time

The United Nations on Tuesday said it was ready to start salvage work on an oil tanker standing abandoned off Yemen’s coast at the rebel-held port of Hodeida, holding 1.1 million barrels of crude. It has been speculated that the tanker is in miserable shape, and can explode or catch fire at any time, thus posing a tremendous risk to the local maritime environment.&nbsp;

The tanker has not been serviced since the civil war broke out in Yemen in 2015. As per media reports, the UN has purchased a super-tanker to help pump out oil from the stranded tanker and defuse 'the ticking time bomb.'

<h2>When will the crude oil be pumped out?</h2>

According to UN sources, the oil will be completely pumped out from the stranded tanker by a company called SMIT Salvage. The process, which will cost the UN $148 million, is expected to start within the next 10 days to two weeks. The oil will be shifted to the UN-owned tanker Nautica, and then the empty stranded ship will be towed away to a safe location.

David Gressly, the UN coordinator for Yemen, said in a statement, “We're very happy to be on site where we can start the work."

<h2>Preparatory work to start on Wednesday&nbsp;</h2>

The salvage process will be done with the assistance of an SMIT support vessel called the NDeavour, which arrived at the site on Tuesday. Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme, which is in charge of the salvage operation, said, “With the arrival of the Ndeavour next to the FSO in the Red Sea, we truly have reached a critical milestone."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/war-in-yemen-may-be-over-peace-still-needs-to-be-won-587069">Also Read |&nbsp;War in Yemen may be over, peace still needs to be won</a>

"If all goes according to plan, somewhere in late June, early July, we might be in a position to say that that critical phase of the ship-to-ship transfer could be completed," he added.

<h2>Stranded ship in Yemen: A ticking time bomb?</h2>

If the stranded oil tanker breaks apart before the crude stored inside is completely pumped out, a massive spilling crisis may follow, triggering an environmental emergency in the region. Oil spills can cause extensive damage to marine ecosystems. The oil coats the water's surface, affecting marine plants, animals, and birds. The oil can suffocate fish and other aquatic organisms by clogging their gills, hinder the ability of birds to fly by weighing down their feathers and disrupt the delicate balance of marine food chains. &nbsp;

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The United Nations on Tuesday said it was ready to start salvage work on an oil tanker standing abandoned off Yemen’s coast at the rebel-held port of Hodeida, holding 1.

The United Nations on Tuesday said it was ready to start salvage work on an oil tanker standing abandoned off Yemen’s coast at the rebel-held port of Hodeida, holding 1.1 million barrels of crude. It has been speculated that the tanker is in miserable shape, and can explode or catch fire at any time, thus posing a tremendous risk to the local maritime environment. The tanker has not been serviced since the civil war broke out in Yemen in 2015. As per media reports, the UN has purchased a super-tanker to help pump out oil from the stranded tanker and defuse 'the ticking time bomb.' When will the crude oil be pumped out? According to UN sources, the oil will be completely pumped out from the stranded tanker by a company called SMIT Salvage. The process, which will cost the UN $148 million, is expected to start within the next 10 days to two weeks. The oil will be shifted to the UN-owned tanker Nautica, and then the empty stranded ship will be towed away to a safe location. David Gressly, the UN coordinator for Yemen, said in a statement, “We're very happy to be on site where we can start the work." Preparatory work to start on Wednesday The salvage process will be done with the assistance of an SMIT support vessel called the NDeavour, which arrived at the site on Tuesday. Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme, which is in charge of the salvage operation, said, “With the arrival of the Ndeavour next to the FSO in the Red Sea, we truly have reached a critical milestone." Also Read | War in Yemen may be over, peace still needs to be won "If all goes according to plan, somewhere in late June, early July, we might be in a position to say that that critical phase of the ship-to-ship transfer could be completed," he added. Stranded ship in Yemen: A ticking time bomb? If the stranded oil tanker breaks apart before the crude stored inside is completely pumped out, a massive spilling crisis may follow, triggering an environmental emergency in the region. Oil spills can cause extensive damage to marine ecosystems. The oil coats the water's surface, affecting marine plants, animals, and birds. The oil can suffocate fish and other aquatic organisms by clogging their gills, hinder the ability of birds to fly by weighing down their feathers and disrupt the delicate balance of marine food chains. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ticking time bomb: UN to start salvage work on Yemeni tanker on brink of spilling massive crude in Red Sea

The collapse of a water dam in the Al Mahwit governorate, roughly 111 km west of the country's capital Sanaa, resulted in the deaths of four people on Sunday in Yemen.

The Al-Aqabi Dam which collapsed was in the Hafash region of the Al Mahwit governorate. Following the collapse it triggered a flood that carried away a mosque with four people inside. All four died.

Moreover, homes and agricultural lands nearby were also damaged by the flood waters. The Houthi group has been in charge of the governorate since 2014.&nbsp;A Houthi-appointed official in the governorate named Adel Issa said that the dam was collapsed because of the excessive rains and the consequent floods.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-18-dead-dozens-injured-as-tourist-bus-in-mexico-plunges-in-ravine-587657">At least 18 dead, dozens injured as tourist bus in Mexico plunges into ravine</a>

Authorities in Sanaa sent two rescue and ambulance trucks to the location, he continued.

Yemen's National Centre of Meteorology warned residents in numerous governorates, including Al Mahwit, of impending severe downpours. The department also encouraged everyone to stay away from torrential passages, reefs and valleys, both during and after the downpour.&nbsp;

Dozens of these dams require restoration work to maintain their cohesion. The conflict that has been raging in Yemen for more than eight years has led to a halt in the country's dam and water barrier maintenance.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-isis-chief-killed-in-syria-says-turkey-president-587671">Suspected ISIS chief, codename Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, killed in Syria: Turkey president</a>

The Yemen conflict has been ongoing since 2014. It started with the Houthi rebel movement, also known as Ansar Allah. They took control of the capital city of Sana'a and forced the Yemeni government, led by President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, to flee.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when a coalition of Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, launched a military intervention to support the Yemeni government and push back against the Houthis.

The conflict has been characterized by a complex array of factions and alliances, with various tribal, sectarian, and political groups vying for power and influence. It has caused widespread devastation and humanitarian suffering, with tens of thousands of people killed and millions displaced.

The fighting has also led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of Yemenis suffering from food insecurity, malnutrition, and lack of access to basic services such as healthcare and clean water.

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The war has been marked by numerous atrocities, including indiscriminate airstrikes and human rights abuses. It has also been exacerbated by regional and international geopolitical rivalries, with Iran supporting the Houthi rebels and the United States and its allies supporting the Saudi-led coalition.

Despite numerous attempts at peace talks and ceasefires, the conflict has continued to rage on, with little hope of a resolution in sight. The UN has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting and for all parties to engage in a peaceful political process to resolve the conflict.

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The collapse of a water dam in the Al Mahwit governorate, roughly 111 km west of the country's capital Sanaa, resulted in the deaths of four people on Sunday in Yemen.

The collapse of a water dam in the Al Mahwit governorate, roughly 111 km west of the country's capital Sanaa, resulted in the deaths of four people on Sunday in Yemen. The Al-Aqabi Dam which collapsed was in the Hafash region of the Al Mahwit governorate. Following the collapse it triggered a flood that carried away a mosque with four people inside. All four died. Moreover, homes and agricultural lands nearby were also damaged by the flood waters. The Houthi group has been in charge of the governorate since 2014. A Houthi-appointed official in the governorate named Adel Issa said that the dam was collapsed because of the excessive rains and the consequent floods. Also Read | At least 18 dead, dozens injured as tourist bus in Mexico plunges into ravine Authorities in Sanaa sent two rescue and ambulance trucks to the location, he continued. Yemen's National Centre of Meteorology warned residents in numerous governorates, including Al Mahwit, of impending severe downpours. The department also encouraged everyone to stay away from torrential passages, reefs and valleys, both during and after the downpour. Dozens of these dams require restoration work to maintain their cohesion. The conflict that has been raging in Yemen for more than eight years has led to a halt in the country's dam and water barrier maintenance. Also Read | Suspected ISIS chief, codename Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, killed in Syria: Turkey president The Yemen conflict has been ongoing since 2014. It started with the Houthi rebel movement, also known as Ansar Allah. They took control of the capital city of Sana'a and forced the Yemeni government, led by President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, to flee. The conflict escalated in 2015 when a coalition of Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, launched a military intervention to support the Yemeni government and push back against the Houthis. The conflict has been characterized by a complex array of factions and alliances, with various tribal, sectarian, and political groups vying for power and influence. It has caused widespread devastation and humanitarian suffering, with tens of thousands of people killed and millions displaced. The fighting has also led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of Yemenis suffering from food insecurity, malnutrition, and lack of access to basic services such as healthcare and clean water. Watch | Experts predict AI to be the forefront of 2024 US election campaign × The war has been marked by numerous atrocities, including indiscriminate airstrikes and human rights abuses. It has also been exacerbated by regional and international geopolitical rivalries, with Iran supporting the Houthi rebels and the United States and its allies supporting the Saudi-led coalition. Despite numerous attempts at peace talks and ceasefires, the conflict has continued to rage on, with little hope of a resolution in sight. The UN has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting and for all parties to engage in a peaceful political process to resolve the conflict. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Four killed as heavy rains, flood trigger dam collapse in Yemen

On 10th March 2023, China took the world by surprise when it announced that Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to resume diplomatic relations, in a peace deal brokered by it. The peace deal offers hope for peace and end to conflicts in the region. Among such conflicts is the eight-year-long ongoing war in Yemen where Saudi-led coalition is pitched against Iran-backed Houthi rebels since March 2015. As per the peace deal, both sides have agreed to end their support to the war in Yemen. It may be recalled that Saudi Arabia, along with regional Arab Allies and the US, launched airstrikes in Yemen on 26th March, 2015 in the air assault codenamed "Operation Decisive Storm", in response to the Houthi’s armed conflict against the government of Yemen.&nbsp;

Watch | The West Asia Post: Yemenis bear the cost of war

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Already, there are signs of the peace deal taking shape in Yemen. On 09th April, Saudi and Omani delegations held talks in Sanaa with Houthi officials as well as the head of Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat. The talks focused on an early reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and the Sanaa airport, nation rebuilding efforts and a clear timeline for foreign forces to exit the country. In the past few weeks, both sides have exchanged number of prisoners too, as a goodwill gesture. There were concerns that the armed conflict could resume after Ramzan as the ceasefire in Yemen had expired in October 2022, but there is hope that the relative calm over past one year may finally translate into cessation of hostilities.&nbsp;

The conflict in Yemen however, goes well beyond the war since March 2015. The seeds of the unrest and conflict have a long history, mostly internal to Yemen and a long-lasting peace can only prevail only once both external and internal conflicts are resolved.&nbsp;

Internal Conflict

The roots to the internal conflict in Yemen go back to 22nd May 1990 when the erstwhile two Yemeni nations were united and brought under a single flag. People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) merged with Arab Republic of Yemen (North Yemen) to form a new country, ‘Republic of Yemen’. It was a forced union as, Yemen, since the 19th century, had been divided in two separate entities along a north-south divide.

North Yemen was part of the former Ottoman Empire, while South Yemen fell under British influence in 1839 when the British captured the port of Aden. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, North Yemen became an independent republic while South Yemen continued under the British until Britain withdrew in 1967, after which it was largely under control of communist forces, till unification in 1990.

The unification which came about more as a result of collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, was a compromise and a power-sharing formula attempting to balance political power. President Saleh, who was the President of Arab Republic of Yemen (North Yemen) since July 1978, continued as the president while the southern leader al-Beidh was made the Vice president.

However, the simmering conflict continued. Outnumbered one-is-to-four in terms of population and facing discrimination in jobs and sharing of revenue, Southern Yemenis felt left out and exploited. The first national elections, held on 27th April 1993, which promised a solution to the political unrest, resulted in a stalemate as neither of the parties could muster up a majority.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/saudi-led-coalition-releases-over-100-additional-yemen-war-prisoners-583456">Saudi-led coalition releases over 100 additional Yemen war prisoners</a>

The impasse continued till King Hussein of Jordan helped negotiate Yemen’s Document of Pledge and Accord (DPA), signed in Amman in February 1994, promising a balanced and equitable distribution of power and decentralized system of governance. The hope for peace was shattered when Saleh’s forces attacked a camp of southern forces in Sanaa in April 1994. &nbsp;

Suffering heavy losses, southern leader Ali Salem al-Beidh formally declared secession on 20th May.Armed clashes continued until 07th July 1994, when Saleh’s troops marched into Aden and declared victory. The military defeat and the continuing discrimination left the people in Southern Yemen feeling betrayed which slowly paved the way for the emergence of ‘Southern Movement’ in 2007, which has been fighting since for the rights of Southern Yemen.&nbsp;

In July 2017, the Southern Movement, which was supporting President Hadi government and the Saudi coalition against the Houthis till then, formed a ‘Southern Transitional Council’ (STC), a secessionist movement focused on re-gaining independence for South Yemen. It was formed owing to a discord with President Hadi when Hadi fired governor of Aden in April 2017.&nbsp;

Since then, the STC has attempted coup against the Hadi government twice, once in January 2018 and again in August 2019, when its forces overthrew the Hadi government and forced them to vacate Aden. After a sustained regional effort, the STC and the Hadi government signed the Riyadh Agreement in November 2019 which promised de-escalation and reconciliation. However, the STC soon scrapped the peace deal on 26th April 2020 and declared self-rule in key port city of Aden and other southern provinces. It later rescinded its declaration of self-rule on 29th July 2020, through Saudi mediation efforts. &nbsp; 
Current Crisis&nbsp;

The current conflict owes its origin to the ‘Arab Spring’ protests in 2011. Thousands of protesters, angered by continuing poverty, unemployment and corruption, gathered in the capital city Sanaa in January 2011, calling for President Saleh to step down as president. Saleh initially was dismissive about the protests but later offered concessions including assurance to step down after the current term ends in 2013. However, on 18th March, when protesters in Sanaa were fired upon by Saleh loyalists, killing at least 50 people, many officials, diplomats, ministers, and members of parliament resigned in protest. These included Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, commander of the army’s 1st Armoured Division and one of the most powerful military officers in Saleh government.&nbsp;

Crisis intensified and on 03rd June, President Saleh was injured in a bomb blast in the presidential palace. &nbsp;He was rushed to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the GCC countries along with the UN attempted a peaceful resolution to the crisis and formulated a plan called ‘GCC Initiative’ in May 2011 to support an agreement on the peaceful transfer of power.

On 21st October, 2011, the UNSC voted unanimously to pass the resolution UNSC Resolution 2014 which called for immediate implementation of GCC initiative and transfer of power in Yemen. On 23rd November 2011 finally, President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a power–transfer agreement and relinquished post of the President to hand over power to Vice President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi. A National Dialogue Conference (NDC) too was launched in March 2013 to reach consensus on major issues facing the country's political future but conflict continued and the Houthis kept extending their reach across the country.&nbsp;

In September 2014, armed Houthi tribesmen overran Sanaa, seizing key government buildings. On 21st January 2015, Houthi fighters overran the presidential palace. President Hadi and PM Khaled Bahah (along with the cabinet) were placed under house arrest and thereafter resigned on 22nd January 2015. Hadi escaped to Aden on 21st February describing the Houthi takeover of Sana’a as a “coup”. &nbsp;The Houthis took control of Taiz Airport and entered Aden unopposed on 25th March 2015, completing control of the three major cities in the country, Sana’a, Taiz and Aden. President Hadi fled to Riyadh on 25th March and the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on 26th March 2015. The war have continued ever since.

Conclusion

The conflict in Yemen is therefore, equally about the external as well as the internal fault lines. While the Saudi-Iran peace deal many lead to formal end to the war between the Coalition and the Houthis, the more acute internal conflict may take longer. The mistrust between the South and the North would take time and trust to heal. However, it would be best left for the people to internally and mutually come with their own peace formula. A federal government with decentralized power structures in the North and South with a balanced and fare revenue-sharing structure could be one option.

The other could be an option taking Yemen back to the pre-1990 era of two nations sharing borders, but in peace and mutual respect. There may be other options too. The ‘Arab Spring’ protests of the previous decade have however taught the world a clear lesson. Political changes are best reconciled within the representatives groups of people themselves and external interference only brings about chaos.&nbsp;

Finally, Yemen has suffered for far too long. It is an important country of the Arabian Peninsula and holds the key to a very critical choke point across the Red Sea at Bab-al-Mandab for the global trade. The UN has called Yemen one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. In 2023, a staggering 21.6 million people require some form of humanitarian assistance as 80 percent of the country struggles to put food on the table and access basic services. It is time now for Yemen to heal and for peace to have a chance.

Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

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On 10th March 2023, China took the world by surprise when it announced that Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to resume diplomatic relations, in a peace deal brokered by it.

On 10th March 2023, China took the world by surprise when it announced that Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to resume diplomatic relations, in a peace deal brokered by it. The peace deal offers hope for peace and end to conflicts in the region. Among such conflicts is the eight-year-long ongoing war in Yemen where Saudi-led coalition is pitched against Iran-backed Houthi rebels since March 2015. As per the peace deal, both sides have agreed to end their support to the war in Yemen. It may be recalled that Saudi Arabia, along with regional Arab Allies and the US, launched airstrikes in Yemen on 26th March, 2015 in the air assault codenamed "Operation Decisive Storm", in response to the Houthi’s armed conflict against the government of Yemen. Watch | The West Asia Post: Yemenis bear the cost of war × Already, there are signs of the peace deal taking shape in Yemen. On 09th April, Saudi and Omani delegations held talks in Sanaa with Houthi officials as well as the head of Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat. The talks focused on an early reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and the Sanaa airport, nation rebuilding efforts and a clear timeline for foreign forces to exit the country. In the past few weeks, both sides have exchanged number of prisoners too, as a goodwill gesture. There were concerns that the armed conflict could resume after Ramzan as the ceasefire in Yemen had expired in October 2022, but there is hope that the relative calm over past one year may finally translate into cessation of hostilities. The conflict in Yemen however, goes well beyond the war since March 2015. The seeds of the unrest and conflict have a long history, mostly internal to Yemen and a long-lasting peace can only prevail only once both external and internal conflicts are resolved. Internal Conflict The roots to the internal conflict in Yemen go back to 22nd May 1990 when the erstwhile two Yemeni nations were united and brought under a single flag. People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) merged with Arab Republic of Yemen (North Yemen) to form a new country, ‘Republic of Yemen’. It was a forced union as, Yemen, since the 19th century, had been divided in two separate entities along a north-south divide. North Yemen was part of the former Ottoman Empire, while South Yemen fell under British influence in 1839 when the British captured the port of Aden. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, North Yemen became an independent republic while South Yemen continued under the British until Britain withdrew in 1967, after which it was largely under control of communist forces, till unification in 1990. The unification which came about more as a result of collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, was a compromise and a power-sharing formula attempting to balance political power. President Saleh, who was the President of Arab Republic of Yemen (North Yemen) since July 1978, continued as the president while the southern leader al-Beidh was made the Vice president. However, the simmering conflict continued. Outnumbered one-is-to-four in terms of population and facing discrimination in jobs and sharing of revenue, Southern Yemenis felt left out and exploited. The first national elections, held on 27th April 1993, which promised a solution to the political unrest, resulted in a stalemate as neither of the parties could muster up a majority. Also Read | Saudi-led coalition releases over 100 additional Yemen war prisoners The impasse continued till King Hussein of Jordan helped negotiate Yemen’s Document of Pledge and Accord (DPA), signed in Amman in February 1994, promising a balanced and equitable distribution of power and decentralized system of governance. The hope for peace was shattered when Saleh’s forces attacked a camp of southern forces in Sanaa in April 1994. Suffering heavy losses, southern leader Ali Salem al-Beidh formally declared secession on 20th May.Armed clashes continued until 07th July 1994, when Saleh’s troops marched into Aden and declared victory. The military defeat and the continuing discrimination left the people in Southern Yemen feeling betrayed which slowly paved the way for the emergence of ‘Southern Movement’ in 2007, which has been fighting since for the rights of Southern Yemen. In July 2017, the Southern Movement, which was supporting President Hadi government and the Saudi coalition against the Houthis till then, formed a ‘Southern Transitional Council’ (STC), a secessionist movement focused on re-gaining independence for South Yemen. It was formed owing to a discord with President Hadi when Hadi fired governor of Aden in April 2017. Since then, the STC has attempted coup against the Hadi government twice, once in January 2018 and again in August 2019, when its forces overthrew the Hadi government and forced them to vacate Aden. After a sustained regional effort, the STC and the Hadi government signed the Riyadh Agreement in November 2019 which promised de-escalation and reconciliation. However, the STC soon scrapped the peace deal on 26th April 2020 and declared self-rule in key port city of Aden and other southern provinces. It later rescinded its declaration of self-rule on 29th July 2020, through Saudi mediation efforts. Current Crisis The current conflict owes its origin to the ‘Arab Spring’ protests in 2011. Thousands of protesters, angered by continuing poverty, unemployment and corruption, gathered in the capital city Sanaa in January 2011, calling for President Saleh to step down as president. Saleh initially was dismissive about the protests but later offered concessions including assurance to step down after the current term ends in 2013. However, on 18th March, when protesters in Sanaa were fired upon by Saleh loyalists, killing at least 50 people, many officials, diplomats, ministers, and members of parliament resigned in protest. These included Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, commander of the army’s 1st Armoured Division and one of the most powerful military officers in Saleh government. Crisis intensified and on 03rd June, President Saleh was injured in a bomb blast in the presidential palace. He was rushed to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the GCC countries along with the UN attempted a peaceful resolution to the crisis and formulated a plan called ‘GCC Initiative’ in May 2011 to support an agreement on the peaceful transfer of power. On 21st October, 2011, the UNSC voted unanimously to pass the resolution UNSC Resolution 2014 which called for immediate implementation of GCC initiative and transfer of power in Yemen. On 23rd November 2011 finally, President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a power–transfer agreement and relinquished post of the President to hand over power to Vice President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi. A National Dialogue Conference (NDC) too was launched in March 2013 to reach consensus on major issues facing the country's political future but conflict continued and the Houthis kept extending their reach across the country. In September 2014, armed Houthi tribesmen overran Sanaa, seizing key government buildings. On 21st January 2015, Houthi fighters overran the presidential palace. President Hadi and PM Khaled Bahah (along with the cabinet) were placed under house arrest and thereafter resigned on 22nd January 2015. Hadi escaped to Aden on 21st February describing the Houthi takeover of Sana’a as a “coup”. The Houthis took control of Taiz Airport and entered Aden unopposed on 25th March 2015, completing control of the three major cities in the country, Sana’a, Taiz and Aden. President Hadi fled to Riyadh on 25th March and the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on 26th March 2015. The war have continued ever since. Conclusion The conflict in Yemen is therefore, equally about the external as well as the internal fault lines. While the Saudi-Iran peace deal many lead to formal end to the war between the Coalition and the Houthis, the more acute internal conflict may take longer. The mistrust between the South and the North would take time and trust to heal. However, it would be best left for the people to internally and mutually come with their own peace formula. A federal government with decentralized power structures in the North and South with a balanced and fare revenue-sharing structure could be one option. The other could be an option taking Yemen back to the pre-1990 era of two nations sharing borders, but in peace and mutual respect. There may be other options too. The ‘Arab Spring’ protests of the previous decade have however taught the world a clear lesson. Political changes are best reconciled within the representatives groups of people themselves and external interference only brings about chaos. Finally, Yemen has suffered for far too long. It is an important country of the Arabian Peninsula and holds the key to a very critical choke point across the Red Sea at Bab-al-Mandab for the global trade. The UN has called Yemen one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. In 2023, a staggering 21.6 million people require some form of humanitarian assistance as 80 percent of the country struggles to put food on the table and access basic services. It is time now for Yemen to heal and for peace to have a chance. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

War in Yemen may be over, peace still needs to be won

Nearly 100 people have died in Yemen. It was an Eid payout, that turned fatal. A mere $9 made people sacrifice their lives. Ghadi Francis tells you what price have millions of Yemenis paid for a war they have no role in on this week's The West Asia Post.

The West Asia Post: Yemenis bear the cost of war

Yemen witnessed a stampede during a charity handout event. Over 80 people have been killed in the crowd crush. Are people paying the price of the Yemen Civil War? Molly Gambhir reports

Gravitas | Yemenis die over $9 worth charity handout

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