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Alarming Resurgence of Cholera Cases in Houthi-Controlled Areas in Yemen

Thanks to the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), WHO has made great strides in Yemen (UN)
Thanks to the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), WHO has made great strides in Yemen (UN)
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Alarming Resurgence of Cholera Cases in Houthi-Controlled Areas in Yemen

Thanks to the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), WHO has made great strides in Yemen (UN)
Thanks to the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), WHO has made great strides in Yemen (UN)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of an alarming resurgence of cholera cases in Houthi-held territories in the north of Yemen, with the number of recorded cases nearing 100,000.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) forecasted a heightened risk of flooding during Yemen's rainy season, which runs until September.

In its Health Cluster Bulletin, WHO said the cholera outbreak continues in Yemen covering most of the country.

It said 112,583 suspected cholera cases have been reported in the Yemeni governorates since the beginning of this year.

Most cases were recorded in Houthi-controlled areas, accounting for 83% of the total cases compared to 17% in governorates under the internationally-recognized government.

As of July 6, 2024, the bulletin said 93,000 suspected cases have been reported in Houthi-controlled areas.

It noted that the Health Cluster, with coordination with the relevant authorities and partners, is coordinating a rapid response to the outbreak.

The Yemeni government, in cooperation with the UN, continues the fight against cholera and to open cholera treatment centers.

In return, the Houthis ban child vaccination campaigns, hide the number of cholera cases and deaths in the areas under their control, while the militias’ media outlets and mosques continue to warn against vaccines, describing them as Western conspiracies.

The lack of vaccination campaigns in Houthi-controlled areas have caused the resurgence of many diseases, including polio, years after Yemen was announced free of the pandemic.

Flooding Risks

A cholera outbreak in Houthi-controlled areas came while FAO warned of a heightened risk of flooding, especially in coastal and low-lying areas, in the coming weeks.

In its Agrometeorological Early Warning Bulletin, FAO said factors such as heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage systems, devegetation, and other environmental conditions can contribute to flash floods.

The resulting exposure of vulnerable agricultural resources further amplifies the threat to food security, the bulletin warned.

According to UN data, 6 million people were projected to be one step away from famine in Yemen due to the sharp decline in aid provided by donors, and the suspension, since the end of last year, of the food program that distributes aid in Houthi-controlled areas.

FAO said July, in particular, typically records significant rainfall across many areas of Yemen.

It said that with daily precipitation levels expected to rise, reaching cumulative values surpassing 200 mm in areas like Ibb governorate, the Central Highlands and parts of the Southern Uplands are poised to receive the heaviest rainfall in the upcoming period.

Additionally, the bulletin said areas such as Hadramaut governorate, which typically experience minimal rainfall, are predicted to receive substantial precipitation nearing 40 mm.

FAO showed that these meteorological projections, coupled with the hydro-topographical characteristics of low-lying and coastal watersheds, could result in the reemergence of flash floods, with varying probabilities across different areas.

Some areas in Yemen will experience temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius, specifically, the northern areas of Hadramaut and Al Maharah governorates, as well as coastal spots in Lahj.

Also, temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius will be recorded in various locations along the Red Sea (such as Hodeidah and Hajjah), the Gulf of Aden (Lahj), and the inland areas of Shabwah, Marib, Al Jawf, Hadramaut, and Al Maharah.

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Arab World

Report: Iran’s Foreign Minister to Visit Lebanon on Thursday

16 March 2018, Austria, Vienna: Abbas Araqchi, then Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, gives an interview in Vienna. (dpa)
16 March 2018, Austria, Vienna: Abbas Araqchi, then Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, gives an interview in Vienna. (dpa)
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Report: Iran’s Foreign Minister to Visit Lebanon on Thursday

16 March 2018, Austria, Vienna: Abbas Araqchi, then Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, gives an interview in Vienna. (dpa)
16 March 2018, Austria, Vienna: Abbas Araqchi, then Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, gives an interview in Vienna. (dpa)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the Mehr news ​agency he will visit Lebanon on Thursday with an economic delegation.

A US-backed ceasefire agreed in November 2024 ended more than ‌a year ‌of ‌fighting ⁠between ​Israel ‌and Lebanon's Hezbollah, but it also required the disarmament of the Iran-aligned group.

Lebanon has sought to distance itself ⁠from Iran, with its Foreign ‌Minister Youssef Raji ‍last ‍month declining an ‍invitation to visit Tehran citing "current conditions" as not permitting the visit, and he instead ​invited Araqchi to visit Beirut for talks.

Arab World

Latest Israeli Escalation in Lebanon Raises Questions about All-out War

Rescue workers search for possible victims in a building destroyed by an Israeli strike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, early Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP)
Rescue workers search for possible victims in a building destroyed by an Israeli strike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, early Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP)
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Latest Israeli Escalation in Lebanon Raises Questions about All-out War

Rescue workers search for possible victims in a building destroyed by an Israeli strike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, early Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP)
Rescue workers search for possible victims in a building destroyed by an Israeli strike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, early Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP)

The Israeli airstrike that struck a three-storey building on Tuesday in the industrial zone of Sainiq, in the Sidon district in southern Lebanon, was part of a broader wave of attacks that on Monday targeted the western Bekaa Valley, Jezzine, and areas around Sidon.

With intensive drone flights over Baalbek and its outskirts, followed by surveillance over Tyre and Zahrani, the picture pointed to a new wave of escalation extending beyond the South that stretches from north of the Litani River to the Awali basin and parts of the Bekaa.

Timing

The escalation raises serious questions, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said, particularly as the “Mechanism” committee is set to meet on Wednesday.

The committee is tasked with halting hostilities and identifying practical steps to restore security and stability in the South, including Israel’s withdrawal to the international border, the release of Lebanese detainees, and the completion of the Lebanese Army’s deployment in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

In a statement, Aoun stressed that Israel’s continued attacks aim to derail local, regional, and international efforts to contain the escalation, despite Lebanon’s cooperation and the measures adopted by the government to extend state authority south of the Litani.

He added that these steps were implemented by the Lebanese Army “with professionalism, discipline, and precision.”

He renewed his call for effective international intervention to curb Israel’s actions and to enable the Mechanism committee to fulfill its mandate with the consensus of the parties concerned and sustained international support.

On Monday, Israel launched a series of strikes across eastern and southern Lebanon after issuing evacuation warnings to residents. Overnight, it continued air raids without warning on Zahrani and Sarafand.

At dawn on Tuesday, it struck a three-storey building in an industrial area in Ghazieh, near the coastal city of Sidon — about 40 kilometres south of Beirut — wounding one person, levelling the building, damaging nearby structures, and sparking a fire.

Later on Tuesday, an Israeli drone struck an area near a house in the village of Kfardounine, followed by another strike on a home in Khirbet Selm that killed two people, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

The Israeli army said it had targeted “multiple military infrastructures” belonging to Hezbollah and Hamas, including weapons depots and military facilities above and below ground.

The statement said Hezbollah used these sites to advance “terrorist plans” and rebuild its capabilities. It also cited strikes on Hamas weapons-production sites in southern Lebanon allegedly used to arm the Palestinian group and plan attacks against Israeli forces and Israel.

Signals on the ground

The latest strikes carry several overlapping signals: a clear return to escalation; an expansion of operations to include areas north of the Litani, the Awali basin, and parts of the Bekaa; and a shift beyond targeting Hezbollah’s military infrastructure alone, with attacks on sites Israel says belong to Hamas.

This has brought strikes into predominantly Sunni areas, such as Manara in the western Bekaa.

Beyond the South

Retired Brigadier Khalil Helou told Asharq Al-Awsat that the recent developments reflect a broader Israeli strategy aimed at increasing pressure on the Lebanese government and state institutions, particularly the army, to accelerate implementation of the second phase of the plan to impose state monopoly over arms, especially north of the Litani, effectively across all of Lebanon.

He said Israel’s approach in Lebanon cannot be separated from the situation in Gaza and Iran, arguing that these arenas are interconnected within a single strategic vision that also intersects with US policy.

“What we are witnessing today is the outcome of wider political and security understandings that emerged after the meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, even if the details were never made public,” he said. The leaders met in late December.

Intelligence-driven operations

Helou described Israel’s recent strikes as “limited military operations with an intelligence-driven character rather than open political signaling.”

The absence of prior warnings in some cases, he added, points to targeted assassinations or precision strikes on sites believed to have particular military importance.

Dahiyeh a possible target, war unlikely

On potential escalation scenarios, Helou said strikes on Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh have become more conceivable than before within Israel’s margin of maneuver.

He nonetheless ruled out a full-scale war, arguing that Hezbollah is currently unable to mount a response even if the scope of attacks widens.

Iran

Turning to Iran, Helou said internal developments and debates within the Iranian regime play a decisive role in shaping Tehran’s regional behavior.

Any major decision by Hezbollah remains directly tied to Iranian guidance, he added.

“The Lebanese scene cannot be read in isolation from what is unfolding daily in Iran, where the broader strategic picture is being drawn,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Walla news site reported that there is no intention to scale back Israeli military presence along the Lebanese border and that operations will continue as required, even if this entails expanding their geographic scope to include areas north of the Litani, the Awali basin, parts of the Bekaa, and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The escalation comes ahead of a military meeting of the Mechanism committee and before a Cabinet session Thursday devoted to reviewing the Lebanese Army’s final report on arms control south of the Litani and preparations for a second phase north of the river.

Haaretz, meanwhile, reported that Trump told Netanyahu he was granting him limited leeway for any military operation against Hezbollah.

Helou said the next phase is likely to see intensified strikes and mounting pressure aimed at enforcing the second phase of disarmament across Lebanon without sliding into a comprehensive war, describing the current trajectory as a “calculated escalation serving broader political and military objectives.”

Arab World

Syria, Israel to Set Up Joint Cell Under US on De-Escalation

Syrian soldiers make their way through the snow in the country's mountainous Qalamoun region, near the border with Lebanon, during a patrol to secure the frontier and prevent smuggling operations on January 1, 2026. (AFP)
Syrian soldiers make their way through the snow in the country's mountainous Qalamoun region, near the border with Lebanon, during a patrol to secure the frontier and prevent smuggling operations on January 1, 2026. (AFP)
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Syria, Israel to Set Up Joint Cell Under US on De-Escalation

Syrian soldiers make their way through the snow in the country's mountainous Qalamoun region, near the border with Lebanon, during a patrol to secure the frontier and prevent smuggling operations on January 1, 2026. (AFP)
Syrian soldiers make their way through the snow in the country's mountainous Qalamoun region, near the border with Lebanon, during a patrol to secure the frontier and prevent smuggling operations on January 1, 2026. (AFP)

Syria's new government and Israel will set up a joint group under US supervision to share intelligence and seek military de-escalation on the ground, they announced Tuesday after talks.

The Syrian foreign minister traveled to Paris in his country's first known meeting in months with Israel, which has pounded its historic adversary despite US unease over the pressure on the fragile government.

A joint statement issued by the US State Department after the talks in the French capital said that Syria and Israel were committed to "achieving lasting security and stability arrangements for both countries."

"Both sides have decided to establish a joint fusion mechanism -- a dedicated communication cell -- to facilitate immediate and ongoing coordination on their intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement and commercial opportunities under the supervision of the United States," the statement said.

"This mechanism will serve as a platform to address any disputes promptly and work to prevent misunderstandings."

The statement did not say Israel would refrain from further strikes or restore an agreement that was previously in place.

Israeli strikes

Israel has no diplomatic relations with Syria, which during the half-century of rule by the Assad family publicly championed the Palestinian cause and was the Arab world's key ally of Iran's clerical state, Israel's arch-enemy.

Bashar al-Assad was ousted in a lightning offensive in December 2024 by Ahmed al-Sharaa after more than a decade of brutal civil war.

President Donald Trump has met and praised Sharaa, now the interim president, brushing aside Israeli skepticism.

The talks in Paris were mediated by Tom Barrack, ambassador to Türkiye and an outspoken advocate of supporting Sharaa.

The United States recently fully removed remaining sanctions on Syria, hoping to give the country a chance to integrate into the global economy.

Since Assad's fall, Israel sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone that had separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israel, saying there was a power vacuum, also unilaterally declared void a 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria that had kept in effect a ceasefire.

Sharaa has sought to restore the agreement and avoid wider conflict with Israel, but he has also opposed Israel's insistence on maintaining a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office called for economic cooperation with Syria and "regional stability and security."

"It was agreed to continue the dialogue to advance shared objectives and safeguard the security of the Druze minority in Syria," it said.

Israel has cited violence against the Druze, who also have a presence inside Israel, as a reason to intervene in Syria.

Israel in July launched massive air strikes, including hitting the defense ministry in Damascus, leading some analysts to believe it was hoping to degrade military capacities of Syria while it was at a weak point.