Yemeni Minister: UN Silence Raises Doubts on Neutrality of Organizations

A Houthi militant walks through the rubble in Yemen. (Reuters)
A Houthi militant walks through the rubble in Yemen. (Reuters)
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Yemeni Minister: UN Silence Raises Doubts on Neutrality of Organizations

A Houthi militant walks through the rubble in Yemen. (Reuters)
A Houthi militant walks through the rubble in Yemen. (Reuters)

Yemeni Minister of Local Administration, Head of the Higher Committee for Relief Abdul Raqib Fatah condemned the forced displacements carried out by the coup militia against the residents of the Jabal Habashi district in Taiz governorate.

He accused them of forcing the residents to leave their homes and planting mines in the vicinity of these houses, resulting in the injury of a number of people.

In a statement issued by Yemeni news agency, Fatah called on UN Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen Jimmy McGoldrick to condemn the actions of the militias and their daily violations against the people of Taiz and other governorates.

He asked McGoldrick to visit Taiz and learn about the daily crimes committed by Houthi and Saleh militias against children, women and civilians, who are forcibly being displaced. He urged him to send urgent reports to rights organizations and the UN Security Council about the people’s suffering.

Fatah considered the silence of the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN human rights organizations unacceptable, pointing out that remaining silent casts doubt on the credibility and impartiality of the organizations.

Meanwhile, founder of the Strategic Research Institute of the French Military Academy Dr. Frederic Charillon said that the Yemeni state, represented by the legitimate government, is keen not to make mistakes.

He added that the militias “do not abide by any rules, do not have any ethics and do not recognize any treaties or charters.”

The French researcher spoke during a panel discussion in Paris on Friday, entitled “How to Protect Yemen’s Cultural Heritage,” about the instability witnessed by a number of Arab states.

He pointed out that the situation in Yemen is difficult and complicated due to an asymmetry in dealing with the humanitarian and political situation.

He also called on the concerned international parties to put an end to the humanitarian tragedy that Yemen has been experiencing since the beginning of the Houthi coup.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.