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Yemen’s Houthis Escalate in Marib over Consequences of Terrorism Designation

Houthi-aligned armed tribesmen arrive at a gathering to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the northern outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
Houthi-aligned armed tribesmen arrive at a gathering to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the northern outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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Yemen’s Houthis Escalate in Marib over Consequences of Terrorism Designation

Houthi-aligned armed tribesmen arrive at a gathering to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the northern outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
Houthi-aligned armed tribesmen arrive at a gathering to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the northern outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

The Houthis have moved large numbers of fighters toward areas controlled by Yemen's internationally recognized government in Marib, a key oil- and gas-producing province, ahead of the US designation of the militias as a foreign terrorist organization enters into force.

At the same time, they have stepped up sabotage operations in liberated regions and continued weapons smuggling.

Yemeni military sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis have sent thousands of fighters to the frontlines in southern and western Marib, carrying out limited attacks as they prepare to take control of these areas.

Sources suggest that this move may be an attempt by the Iran-backed Houthi group to disrupt the situation and avoid the consequences of being officially designated as terrorists by the US government.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni Armed Forces announced thwarting Houthi attacks in several sectors in Marib, using artillery, Katyusha rockets, and snipers.

Military sources added that the group continues to send reinforcements to the frontline.

The Yemeni government estimates that the Houthis are planning to target areas under their control, focusing on oil and gas fields to create confusion as US blacklisting takes effect.

These developments follow concerns raised by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in his latest briefing to the Security Council.

He expressed alarm over reports of Houthi military operations in Hankah Al Masoud village in Al-Bayda province, the killing of two children, and the wounding of others in an attack west of Taiz, calling for an immediate halt to these attacks.

Houthi leader Mohammed Muftah, appointed deputy prime minister of the self-declared government, warned the US against any punitive actions targeting the group or Yemen’s economy.

He said such steps would be seen as a declaration of war, promising a strong response.

Muftah urged the US to “understand this message” and also pledged to fight any new “US conspiracies.”

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UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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UN Food Agency Says Its Food Stocks in Gaza Have Run out under Israel’s Blockade

A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)
A girl puts a pot to her head as Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, April 24, 2025. (Reuters)

The World Food Program says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory.

The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days.

Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the UN. The WFP has been supporting 47 kitchens that distribute 644,000 hot meals a day, WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told the Associated Press.

It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down. But Etefa said the WFP-backed kitchens are the major ones in Gaza.

Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. It says the moves aim to pressure Hamas to release hostages it still holds. Rights groups have called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime.

Israel has said Gaza has enough supplies after a surge of aid entered during the ceasefire and accuses Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes. Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the UN strictly monitors distribution. They say the aid flow during the ceasefire was barely enough to cover the immense needs from throughout the war when only a trickle of supplies got in.

With no new goods entering Gaza, many foods have disappeared from markets, including meat, eggs, fruits, dairy products and many vegetables. Prices for what remains have risen dramatically, becoming unaffordable for much of the population. Most families rely heavily on canned goods.

Malnutrition is already surging. The UN said it identified 3,700 children suffering from acute malnutrition in March, up 80% from the month before. At the same time, because of diminishing supplies, aid groups were only able to provide nutritional supplements to some 22,000 children in March, down 70% from February. The supplements are a crucial tool for averting malnutrition.

Almost all bakeries shut down weeks ago and the WFP stopped distribution of food basics to families for lack of supplies. With stocks of most ingredients depleted, charity kitchens generally can only serve meals of pasta or rice with little added.

World Central Kitchen -- a US charity that is one of the biggest in Gaza that doesn’t rely on the WFP -- said Thursday that its kitchens had run out of proteins. Instead, they make stews from canned vegetables. Because fuel is scarce, it dismantles wooden shipping pallets to burn in its stoves, it said. It also runs the only bakery still functioning in Gaza, producing 87,000 loaves of pita a day.

The WFP said 116,000 tons of food is ready to be brought into Gaza if Israel opens the borders, enough to feed 1 million people for four months.

Israel has leveled much of Gaza with its air and ground campaign, vowing to destroy Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. It has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

In the Oct. 7 attack, gunmen killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. They still hold 59 hostages after most were released in ceasefire deals.