Houthis Step Up Attacks in Hodeidah amid UN Silence

UN vehicles at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen. (Reuters)
UN vehicles at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen. (Reuters)
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Houthis Step Up Attacks in Hodeidah amid UN Silence

UN vehicles at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen. (Reuters)
UN vehicles at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen. (Reuters)

The UN observer mission based in Yemen’s western coastal Hodeidah governorate has remained silent over the growing attacks by Houthi militias that are threatening to collapse a fragile UN-sponsored truce agreement that was signed back in 2018.

The militias, backed by Iran, launched missile strikes on Tuesday that targeted an industrial complex and a number of civilian neighborhoods in Hodeidah, war monitors of pro-government joint Yemeni forces reported.

Within a window of eight hours, the militias violated the Stockholm Agreement 86 times, they added, confirming that the Iran-aligned group is waging a hostile military escalation in Hodeidah.

The assaults resulted in substantial material damage and managed to spread fear and panic among locals.

This is not the first time the militants target the “Ikhwan Thabit” industrial and commercial complex.

War monitors also reported Houthis using medium and heavy weapons, mortar shells and drones to target residential areas and farms in the Hays and al-Duraihimi districts, located in Hodeidah’s south.

Military sources have previously confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthis are seeking to expand the range of combat lines and make advances in Hodeidah’s southern and eastern fronts.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks in the Hays, al-Hok, Tahita and al-Duraihimi districts.

On Monday, Houthis used katyusha rockets to target al-Mandhar residential neighborhood in al-Hok.

Several houses in al-Mandhar were either hit or badly damaged by the attack. At least five houses were totally destroyed by the indiscriminate shelling.

Houthi constant bombardment of populated areas has caused panic throughout Hodeidah and forced hundreds of families to leave their homes.

The UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), led by General Abhijit Guha, failed to condemn the recent aggressions.

Instead, the observer mission keeps to issuing statements denouncing the escalation and calling for restraint.



Israeli Officials Signal They Want UN to Remain Key Gaza Aid Channel, Says Senior UN Official

 Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)
Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)
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Israeli Officials Signal They Want UN to Remain Key Gaza Aid Channel, Says Senior UN Official

 Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)
Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)

Israeli officials have signaled they want the United Nations to remain the key avenue for humanitarian deliveries in Gaza, the deputy head of the World Food Program said on Friday, noting the work of a controversial US aid group was not discussed.

"They wanted the UN to continue to be the main track for delivery, especially should there be a cease fire, and they asked us to be ready to scale up," Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the UN food agency, told reporters on Friday after visiting Gaza and Israel last week.

The US, Egypt and Qatar are trying to broker a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

Hamas said on Wednesday that the flow of aid was one of the sticking points.

Israel and the United States have publicly urged the UN to work through the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the UN has refused, questioning the group's neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement.

Skau said he met with Israeli authorities at different levels last week and that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation "did not come up in those conversations."

"I think there were rumors of the UN being pushed out, but it was very clear in my engagement that they want the UN to continue to be the main track in delivery," Skau said.

DEATHS

Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited UN deliveries to resume.

The GHF launched its operation, using private US security and logistics firms to transport aid to distribution hubs, a week later.

The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded 615 deaths near GHF sites and 183 deaths "presumably on the route of aid convoys" operated by the UN and other relief groups.

The GHF has repeatedly said there have been no deaths at any of its aid distribution sites. The group said on Friday that it has so far delivered more than 70 million meals in Gaza.

The US State Department has approved $30 million in funding for the GHF, which touts its model as "reinventing aid delivery in war zones."

Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the UN-led operations, which the group denies.

Throughout the conflict, the United Nations has described its humanitarian operation in Gaza as opportunistic - facing problems with Israel's military operation, access restrictions by Israel into and throughout Gaza, and looting by armed gangs.

But the UN has said its aid distribution system works, and that was particularly proven during a two-month ceasefire, which Israel abandoned in mid-March.

The UN said it got 600-700 trucks of aid a day into Gaza during the truce and has stressed then when people know there is a steady flow of aid, the looting subsides.