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Yemen: Limited Resumption of Aid Distribution in Houthi-Controlled Areas

Children wait for lunch at their hut in Sanaa, Yemen August 29, 2022 (Reuters)
Children wait for lunch at their hut in Sanaa, Yemen August 29, 2022 (Reuters)
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Yemen: Limited Resumption of Aid Distribution in Houthi-Controlled Areas

Children wait for lunch at their hut in Sanaa, Yemen August 29, 2022 (Reuters)
Children wait for lunch at their hut in Sanaa, Yemen August 29, 2022 (Reuters)

The World Food Program (WFP) announced on Tuesday the limited resumption of aid distribution in Houthi-controlled areas, after a six-month pause of assistance due to a dispute with the group over beneficiary lists.

The United Nations agency revealed that this resumption has led to a decrease in poor food consumption among families who received food rations by more than half.

WFP said it conducted a one-off food distribution in eight districts in Hajjah and Hodeidah during May to assess the impact of this one-off distribution. It interviewed a panel sample of 219 households during the pause, and after receiving the food assistance.

In these eight districts, the share of assisted households suffering from severe food deprivation (poor food consumption) dropped from 41% in February, to 22% in May 2024 immediately after the one-off food distribution.

Conversely, the UN agency said that poor food consumption soared in the rest of the non-assisted districts of Hajjah and Hodeidah, as 49% of the households reported severe food deprivation during the same period.

Additionally, the prevalence of severe levels of hunger in the assisted districts decreased from 12% in February to 4% in May.

The reliance on severe food-based coping strategies also decreased from 62% to 58% respectively.

In December 2023, WFP announced a pause in General Food Assistance (GFA), affecting approximately 9.5 million beneficiaries in northern Yemen, primarily due to funding challenges and following unsuccessful negotiations with Houthis on depriving more than one million beneficiaries and directing aid to people who need it most.

Severe Food Deprivation

A subsequent longitudinal study published by WFP in March 2024, revealed that the GFA pause resulted in increased levels of severe food deprivation among beneficiary households.

The impact was uneven across governorates in the north, some governorates demonstrated very high sensitivity to the assistance pause, including Hajjah and Hodeidah governorates.
The eight districts were selected based on vulnerability analysis and other operational factors. Due to limited food stocks and resource constraints, the UN agency said the GFA food basket included only 50 KG of wheat flour and 5 kg of pulses per assisted household, providing 984 calories per person per day for 30 feeding days.

It then showed that post-distribution monitoring (PDM) was conducted remotely two weeks after the distribution, using a panel sample of 219 households selected from the eight districts.

The PDM results indicate a significant reduction in the prevalence of food insecurity amongst beneficiary households in the eight districts, immediately after receiving assistance in May.

WFP said the proportion of households unable to access adequate food decreased from 76% in February to 58% in May.

Also, consumption of essential nutrients improved amongst the surveyed households in May.

The percentage of households consuming protein in the previous seven days increased from 68% in February to 88% in May, and those consuming pulses also increased from 38% to 76% for the same period.

Overall, WFP said the proportion of households employing severe food-based coping strategies decreased from 62% in February to 58% in May 2024 in the eight governorates.

Additionally, the reliance on severe livelihood-based coping strategies (crisis or emergency levels), also decreased from 82% in February to 77% in May.

Finally, the share of households experiencing severe hunger, as measured by household hunger scale, decreased from 12% in February to 4% in May, after receiving the food rations, according to the Program.

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Arab World

Fatah Senior Delegation Heads to Cairo to Meet Palestinian Factions

A member of the Fatah movement attends the 8th General Conference of Fatah, at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
A member of the Fatah movement attends the 8th General Conference of Fatah, at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
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Fatah Senior Delegation Heads to Cairo to Meet Palestinian Factions

A member of the Fatah movement attends the 8th General Conference of Fatah, at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
A member of the Fatah movement attends the 8th General Conference of Fatah, at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

A senior delegation from the Fatah movement is expected to travel to the Egyptian capital Cairo on Saturday evening or Sunday morning to meet Egyptian officials, as well as Palestinian faction officials and representatives, to discuss legislative elections scheduled for Nov. 28.

The delegation will include Fatah Deputy Chairman and Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh, Central Committee member Majed Faraj and Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh.

Electoral Arrangements

An informed source from a Palestinian faction in Cairo told Asharq Al-Awsat that they were informed by some Fatah leaders about this high-level visit, aimed at meeting with various factions to make electoral arrangements.

Meanwhile, a source from a leftist faction said that the initiative to hold national meetings was a proposal from one of the leftist factions, with the aim of broadening options for the success of any elections.

According to the scheduled agenda for the visit, the Fatah delegation is expected to meet with a Hamas delegation, for the first time in a long period, after Fatah had refrained from any meetings for at least the past two years.

Most communications had been indirect, with messages conveyed between the two sides through various parties.

Broad Electoral Alliance

This comes amidst efforts by some Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to form an electoral alliance that includes Islamic Jihad, the Resistance Committees, and the Democratic Reformist Current led by Mohammed Dahlan, a dismissed Fatah leader, as well as another Fatah leader, Nasser al-Qudwa.

Qudwa has formed the National Democratic Forum which also faces disagreements with the movement's current leadership, which controls the Palestinian Authority's key institutions.

Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas's political bureau, affirmed his movement's position to participate in the elections through a broad national bloc comprising Palestinian factions and independent figures. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he indicated that communication has begun with various parties and components, and many bilateral and collective meetings have been held to achieve this bloc.

A Hamas source told Asharq Al-Awsat that an initial agreement has been reached between these factions to form this alliance.

Leftist Factions

It was noted that the participation of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), both factions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), in this alliance has not been confirmed.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned from a leading source in one of these factions that they have not yet agreed to the proposal to join the alliance, and are internally studying it with their organizational structures, suggesting that the two fronts might form a unified democratic alliance.

Recently, the Hamas leadership held a series of meetings with leaders from various Palestinian factions to discuss issues related to the ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the elections.

Islamic Jihad's Participation

Notably, Islamic Jihad has announced it will join the alliance, despite previously refusing to take part in elections, which it viewed as being held under the framework of the Oslo Accords.

Asharq Al-Awsat sought comment from Islamic Jihad leaders and spokespeople, but they did not respond to requests for comment.

A senior movement source in Lebanon said the issue of joining the alliance, or even participating in the elections, had not been decided and that broad consultations were under way within the movement.

Anticipated Postponement and Election Law

The development comes amid talk of a possible postponement of the elections until the end of March next year, with the aim of holding presidential and legislative elections simultaneously. The move is also intended primarily to revisit the political parties law, which has resurfaced after previously being put on hold. The law restricts the participation in elections of Palestinian factions that have armed wings.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas amended the election law, particularly provisions requiring electoral lists to commit to the program of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the recognized sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The program includes recognition of relevant international resolutions, including recognition of Israel, the renunciation of violence and other conditions that Hamas and other Palestinian factions had previously rejected.

It was unclear whether al-Sheikh and Faraj would discuss the possible postponement of the elections and amendments to the election law with Palestinian faction officials if the visit proceeds.

Arab and Islamic states are working to bridge differences between Fatah and Hamas over elections and other issues, while seeking to reform the Palestinian Authority and establish it as the governing body for the West Bank and Gaza amid continued Israeli attacks.

Arab World

Khaddam: Despite My Warning, Hariri Stayed in Lebanon for Electoral Reasons, He Was Killed 6 Days Later

Abdul Halim Khaddam and Rafik al-Hariri meet in June 2001. (AFP)
Abdul Halim Khaddam and Rafik al-Hariri meet in June 2001. (AFP)
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Khaddam: Despite My Warning, Hariri Stayed in Lebanon for Electoral Reasons, He Was Killed 6 Days Later

Abdul Halim Khaddam and Rafik al-Hariri meet in June 2001. (AFP)
Abdul Halim Khaddam and Rafik al-Hariri meet in June 2001. (AFP)

Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam reveals new details in his memoirs about a February 2005 meeting with late Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri at his Beirut residence six days before his assassination.

The memoirs, edited and introduced by Ibrahim Hamidi, are due to be published in early September by Raff Publishing, a subsidiary of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG).

Khaddam recalled that he and Hariri met over a lunch, where the Syrian official, concerned over the former PM’s life, urged him to leave Lebanon “immediately.”

They met on February 8, 2005. Hariri was killed six days later.

The memoirs are due to be published in early September by Raff Publishing, a subsidiary of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG).

In January 2005, during a Baath party meeting at the Syrian presidential palace, then President Bashar al-Assad told the command members: "There is an American-French conspiracy against Syria, and Rafik al-Hariri is involved in it."

Khaddam said that he and the other members were surprised by this dangerous talk, and that two days later, he sent a verbal message to Hariri through former Lebanese Defense Minister Mohsen Dalloul, warning him that dangers were growing and he must leave Lebanon immediately.

On February 8, 2005, Khaddam traveled to Beirut for a medical appointment and accepted a lunch invitation from Hariri. The former PM was anxious and inquired about the message conveyed by Dalloul. Khaddam explained the situation and advised him to leave Lebanon immediately.

Hariri responded, "I have elections... how can I leave the people?"

Khaddam replied: "Your life is more important than the people, and your family is more important than the elections."

Khaddam and other officials take part in Hariri’s funeral on February 6, 2005. (AFP)

The memoirs note two striking details from that lunch. The first was Hariri’s inquiry about the role of Maher al-Assad, Bashar’s brother. He revealed that Aouni Al-Kaaki, owner of Al-Sharq newspaper had informed him that Maher was keen on forming ties with him – Hariri - and was ready to resolve the existing disputes between him and Bashar because he is viewed as "a loyal friend to Syria."

Khaddam replied: "You must be careful and leave Lebanon."

The second detail was Hariri’s revelation about his security detail: "I used to have 50 security personnel, but they withdrew them and left only six."

Six days later, on February 14, while Khaddam was attending a Baath meeting in Damascus, he saw the breaking news flash on a television in a colleague's office about a massive explosion in Beirut. It was subsequently reported that the explosion had targeted Hariri's convoy, killing him along with his security guards and several citizens.

Khaddam with Jumblatt at the Beirut hospital where Hamadeh was being treated after the attempt on his life in October 2004. (AFP)

Khaddam recounted that he informed the presidency of his intention to travel to Beirut to offer his condolences. The reply, which came through the president's chief of staff, said "If you wish to go, go in your personal capacity."

He did indeed attend with his wife and two sons, while the Syrian regime decided to boycott the funeral and the wake.

Syrian official newspapers carried the headline "Massive Explosion in Beirut" without Hariri's name appearing on their front pages, merely noting in the report that he was "among" the casualties - a detail Khaddam said further directed the accusation toward Bashar al-Assad.

The memoirs also shed light on an incident that preceded the lunch by four months: the assassination attempt on Lebanese Minister Marwan Hamadeh, an ally of then Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, in October 2004, which Khaddam described as "a warning to all opponents of President (Emile) Lahoud in Lebanon."

He recounted that the following day, he called Rustom Ghazaleh, the head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon, to inform him that he was heading to Beirut to visit Hamadeh. He was received by Jumblatt at the Beirut hospital, along with his party leaders, and Jebran Tueni, while the injured minister was in the operating room.

Khaddam and then Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (C) during a meeting in June 2005. (AFP)

Khaddam noted that his direct contact with the president had effectively ceased since late October 2004, with communications subsequently taking place through his chief of staff or through written letters.

The strength of this testimony lies in its place within a sequence of publicly documented events: the extension of Lahoud’s presidential term on September 3, 2004, the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 a day earlier, the assassination attempt on Hamadeh, followed by the political and media campaign against Hariri, and ultimately, his assassination.

The memoirs do not render a judgment; rather, they add an insider perspective, completing a full countdown: an accusation within the command, a warning message, a final lunch, and then the February 14 explosion.

The details of the final lunch and the messages that preceded it appear in full in the chapter titled "The Assassination of Rafik Hariri" in Khaddam’s book.

Arab World

Lebanon: Israeli Airstrikes, Demolitions Hit Southern Villages

Smoke rises after Israeli tanks shelled targets in the municipality of Mais al-Jabal, as seen from Chaqra village, in southern Lebanon, 21 August 2026. EPA/STRINGER
Smoke rises after Israeli tanks shelled targets in the municipality of Mais al-Jabal, as seen from Chaqra village, in southern Lebanon, 21 August 2026. EPA/STRINGER
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Lebanon: Israeli Airstrikes, Demolitions Hit Southern Villages

Smoke rises after Israeli tanks shelled targets in the municipality of Mais al-Jabal, as seen from Chaqra village, in southern Lebanon, 21 August 2026. EPA/STRINGER
Smoke rises after Israeli tanks shelled targets in the municipality of Mais al-Jabal, as seen from Chaqra village, in southern Lebanon, 21 August 2026. EPA/STRINGER

Israeli warplanes carried out a series of strikes on Saturday near the area of Kfar Rumman in southern Lebanon and also struck the vicinity of Ali al-Taher hills.

At dawn, Israeli shelling targeted the town of Mansouri, the outskirts of Buyut al-Siyad and the outskirts of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon.

Overnight, Israeli forces carried out extensive demolitions in the villages and towns of Mansouri, Majdal Zoun and Buyut al-Siyad. Reports said not a single house remained undamaged.

Similar Israeli demolitions were reported in Hadatha, Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal, along with machine-gun fire directed toward nearby valleys. Israeli drones also continued to fly over villages and towns in the western and central sectors.