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UN Security Council to Vote on Houthi Arms Embargo

Two armed Houthi fighters in Sanaa (AP)
Two armed Houthi fighters in Sanaa (AP)
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UN Security Council to Vote on Houthi Arms Embargo

Two armed Houthi fighters in Sanaa (AP)
Two armed Houthi fighters in Sanaa (AP)

The United Nations Security Council is due to vote Monday on a proposal by the United Arab Emirates to impose an arms embargo on Yemen’s Houthis after the group claimed several drone and missile assaults on the country this year.

The voting session is the latest UN action to punish those responsible for providing the Iran-backed group with advanced means to attack civilians and civil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The session also marks the last day of Russia’s term as president of the Council for February before the UAE takes over.

The presidency of the Council is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the member states' names.

The UAE's proposed measure would expand a targeted UN arms embargo on several Houthi leaders to impact the whole group.

It needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, the United States, Britain, France or China.

The bill strongly condemns the cross-border attacks by the Houthi terrorist group, including attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE that targeted civilians and civil infrastructure, and calls for their immediate halt.

It calls for the full implementation of the political transition process following the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, in line with the Gulf initiative and its implementation mechanism, and in accordance with its previous related resolutions.

It considers dialogue and reconciliation among various Yemeni parties the only way to resolve the conflict, ruling out any military solution.

The Council is expected to renew the imposed measures in resolutions 2140 (2014) and 2216 (2015) until February 28, 2023.

The draft law underlines the importance of subjecting Houthis to the measures imposed in Article 14 of Resolution 2216, which calls for “preventing the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to, or for, the benefit of (the Houthis) and those acting on their behalf or at their direction in Yemen, of arms and related materiel of all types.”

It further emphasizes the importance of ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemen.

The text calls on member states to increase efforts to combat the smuggling of weapons and components via land and sea routes and ensure the implementation of the targeted arms embargo.

It points to sexual violence or violations committed against children in armed conflicts as punitive acts, under Resolution 2140.

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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)

Intense clashes erupted in southern Syria between local factions in Suwayda province and armed tribal groups from the surrounding countryside, stoking fears of renewed sectarian violence between communities in Suwayda and neighboring Daraa.

The fighting broke out in the western countryside of Suwayda, just a day after Druze religious leaders and community elders announced the start of an agreement intended to bring stability to the area. Conflicting reports have emerged about the reasons behind the escalation.

Local Telegram channels reported what they called a “military escalation” as armed Bedouin groups, described as “outlaws,” were accused of attempting to break a siege around Bedouin-inhabited villages in the western countryside. Mortar exchanges and machine gun fire were reported between the two sides.

In particular, the village of Al-Dara, home to Bedouin tribes, was reportedly shelled from the nearby town of Al-Thaala. In response, tribal fighters launched a counteroffensive, leading to clashes that involved the use of heavy weaponry.

The independent news outlet Suwayda 24 reported that Al-Thaala itself came under attack from unknown groups firing mortars and machine guns from the western outskirts of the town. The incident triggered a gun battle between local defenders and the attackers.

Rumors further fueled tensions, with some claiming that local factions attempted to destroy a mosque and targeted civilian neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Al-Rasid, another outlet covering Suwayda, noted a sharp increase in provocative videos and audio messages alleging that Suwayda factions were besieging tribal areas and setting fire to mosques.

Officials have denied these claims. Religious leaders reaffirmed that mosques remained protected by local factions. Despite this, armed groups from eastern Daraa, reportedly not locals, began shelling Suwayda villages.

Sources in Daraa told Suwayda 24 that these groups, arriving on motorcycles and in vehicles equipped with mortars and heavy weapons, have been trying to provoke unrest for days. Videos and messages circulated on WhatsApp were allegedly aimed at inciting local communities.

The clashes have already had humanitarian consequences. Mortar attacks on villages including Haran, Al-Thaala, Rasas, and Ara resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to eight others. Dozens of families, particularly women and children, have fled to safer areas.

Local sources say the violence is a deliberate attempt to sow discord between the Druze and tribal communities. They urged residents of both Suwayda and Daraa to resist incitement and work together to de-escalate the situation.

Meanwhile, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the release of 22 detainees from the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in Damascus Countryside, stating they were not involved in bloodshed during recent unrest.

Separately, the Israeli military announced it had raided and destroyed a former Syrian regime command post on Mount Hermon. Israeli forces reportedly uncovered weapons caches and military infrastructure during the operation and seized the materials.