Security, Political Challenges Await New Governor of Yemen’s Aden

People walk on a street in Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)
People walk on a street in Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)
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Security, Political Challenges Await New Governor of Yemen’s Aden

People walk on a street in Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)
People walk on a street in Aden, Yemen (File Photo: Reuters)

The new governor of Yemen's temporary capital, Ahmed Hamed Lamlas, will face many security and political challenges in addition to problems in services. He previously managed al-Mansoura and Khormaksar districts, before being assigned as Shabwa governor.

The security situation in Aden has seen some stability after the Southern Transitional Council (STC) pledged to implement the Riyadh Agreement, despite intensified clashes in the neighboring governorate of Abyan.

The Council abandoned its declaration of self-rule in southern Yemen and vowed to implement the Agreement with the legitimate government, including the appointment of a new governor and security director for Aden.

Government forces in Abyan were planning to advance towards Aden, but they had some concerns especially since the declaration of self-rule was followed by the decision to transfer all resources to a special account outside the central bank. The vehicles carrying the money were confiscated on their way to the bank, which resulted in the government’s inability to disburse salaries to civil and military employees.

A government employee, Omar Salem, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the growing political conflict between the two parties and its expansion to other southern governorates has raised many concerns. However, the Riyadh Agreement restored people's hopes in achieving stability.

Aden suffers from deterioration in services, with blackouts of up to 18 hours per day. Despite that, people hope that acceptance to accelerate the implementation of the Agreement will improve the level of services in the city.

Aden residents told Asharq Al-Awsat that stability in the capital will reflect positively on other governorates, and would help improve services, particularly in the electricity, water and cleaning sectors.

Mahmoud Abdullah, a resident of Aden, said that the first tasks of the governor should be to improve power and water services and achieve stability in the city. He also indicated that the new governor should prevent the appearance of armed fighters in the city and find a way to treat sewage water, noting that inflation and currency collapse are issues that the government should solve, not the local authority.



US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
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US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a Houthi-linked petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network across Yemen and the United Arab Emirates in fresh action targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the two individuals and five entities sanctioned on Tuesday were among the most significant importers of petroleum products and money launderers that benefit the Houthis.

"The Houthis collaborate with opportunistic businessmen to reap enormous profits from the importation of petroleum products and to enable the group’s access to the international financial system," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.

"These networks of shady businesses underpin the Houthis’ terrorist machine, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to disrupt these schemes."

Among those targeted on Tuesday was Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, who the Treasury said manages a network of petroleum companies between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and was one of the most prominent petroleum importers in Yemen.

Three companies in his network were also designated, with the Treasury saying they coordinated the delivery of approximately $12 million dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products with a US-designated company to the Houthis.

Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In January, Trump re-designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization, aiming to impose harsher economic penalties in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against US warships defending the critical maritime area.

In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it.