Houthis Evict Academics from University Housing in Sanaa

Houthi gunmen ride a military vehicle in Sanaa. AFP
Houthi gunmen ride a military vehicle in Sanaa. AFP
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Houthis Evict Academics from University Housing in Sanaa

Houthi gunmen ride a military vehicle in Sanaa. AFP
Houthi gunmen ride a military vehicle in Sanaa. AFP

Iran-backed Houthi militias have evicted several academics from on-campus accommodations at universities in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, sources have said.

“Last week, Houthis arbitrarily removed 20 scholars along with their families and children from their assigned housing units at university campuses,” Sanaa-based sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Houthis are looking to bring their loyalists to replace the expelled academics,” they warned, recounting how armed vehicles had stormed faculty residences a few days ago.

Despite growing public discontent, the group has stepped up its clearance campaign targeting academics and their families across Sanaa universities.

“A four-day notice was handed out to those compelled to leave,” sources revealed, adding that Houthis threatened to use force if the academics refused to comply with the eviction deadline.

Houthis have included the widows and orphans of dead professors in their evictions.

At a time when a crippling economic crisis has taken over the lives of many Yemenis, university housing is proving indispensable to the disadvantaged dependents of deceased academics trying to keep a roof over their heads.

“Academics living on campus have been doing so without receiving any salaries,” sources noted, stressing that those thrown out of university housing will not be able to pay rent anywhere.

Reports dating back to early March reveal that Houthis had ruthlessly dislodged 40 academics and their families in a matter of days.

So far, Houthis have carried out the expulsion of around 150 academics and their families from university accommodations across Sanaa, sources revealed.

Since overrunning Sanaa in 2014, Houthis have committed a series of heinous abuses and crimes against higher education institutions in the capital and other areas they control.

Academics, students, and administrative staff in both public and private universities have been targeted by Houthis.



Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
TT

Israeli Military Says it Struck 'Key' Hamas Figure in Lebanon's Tripoli

People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh
People gather near a damaged car after the Israeli military said in a statement that it struck a "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas, in Ayrounieh, northern Lebanon July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Walid Saleh

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had struck "key" figure from Palestinian militant group Hamas near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, the first targeted killing in the area for several months.

In a statement, Israel's military did not give the identity of the targeted person. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

Lebanese state media said a car had been hit near Tripoli and the health ministry reported two people were killed and three others wounded, without identifying them, Reuters reported.

Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups maintain a presence in various areas of Lebanon, mostly in camps that have housed displaced Palestinians for decades.

Since Hamas' cross-border attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel in 2023, Israel has carried out targeted strikes on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah as well as members of Palestinian factions in Lebanon.

Hamas' deputy chief was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs in early 2024, and other strikes hit Palestinian camps in northern Lebanon.

A US-brokered ceasefire last year ended the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, though Israel has continued to carry out strikes on what it says are Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, mostly in southern Lebanon.

Tuesday's strike near Tripoli was the first time a targeted assassination had taken place in the area since the truce.

Meanwhile, US envoy Thomas Barrack continued a two-day visit to Lebanon to discuss disarming Hezbollah and other militant groups.