Houthis Sign UN Plan to End Recruitment of Child Soldiers

Houthi child soldier mounting a military vehicle, Asharq Al-Awsat
Houthi child soldier mounting a military vehicle, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Houthis Sign UN Plan to End Recruitment of Child Soldiers

Houthi child soldier mounting a military vehicle, Asharq Al-Awsat
Houthi child soldier mounting a military vehicle, Asharq Al-Awsat

The United Nations announced on Monday that the Iranian-backed Houthi group has signed an “action plan” with the international organization to stop the recruitment of children, who have fought by the thousands during the country's seven years of civil war.

The UN says nearly 3,500 children have been verified as recruited and deployed in Yemen's civil war, but the number of child soldiers drafted by Houthis could be much larger.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that more than two weeks after reaching a truce, the Houthi group signed a plan of action with the UN to “protect children and prevent grave violations against them in the context of the armed conflict.”

The action plan completely bans the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, including in support roles.

Dujarric said the Houthis committed to identifying children in their ranks and releasing them within six months.

It is noteworthy that the Yemeni internationally recognized government has made similar pledges in documents signed since 2014.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly saw the plan as “a step in the right direction toward protecting Yemen’s children.”

“The UN is committed to children’s welfare and helping the Sanaa authorities and forces they control turn the plan into action starting now,” he said.

Virginia Gamba, the UN's top official looking out for children in war zones, called the Houthis' move “a positive and encouraging step,” but she noted that “the most difficult part of the journey starts now.”

“The action plan must be fully implemented and lead to tangible actions for the improvement of the protection of children in Yemen,” Gamba, who signed in New York as a witness to the Houthis’ commitment, said in a statement.

According to the action plan, Houthis would work in close cooperation with the UN task force on monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children in Yemen, and in cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies and departments, and international and local civil society partners.

The plan has opened the door to addressing Yemen’s urgent humanitarian and economic needs while also creating a genuine opportunity to restart Yemen’s political process.

Gamba called on all parties to the conflict to use the opportunity of the current truce to include child protection provisions in ongoing peace negotiations.

She reiterated the availability of the UN to support the Houthis and other Yemeni parties in measures reinforcing the protection of children from the ravages of hostilities.

“Ultimately, obtaining lasting peace is the best way to protect children in Yemen and should be the first objective of all parties to the conflict in the country,” the senior UN official emphasized.

At the same time, UNICEF Representative Philippe Duamelle described the signing as “an important milestone” for Yemen’s children “whose lives have been so horrifically affected by the conflict.

“We look forward to the full implementation of the Action Plan and to continue working with all parties for the protection and wellbeing of children in Yemen,” Duamelle added.



World Leaders React to Lebanon War Ceasefire

US President Joe Biden welcomed as "good news" the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Joe Biden welcomed as "good news" the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. SAUL LOEB / AFP
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World Leaders React to Lebanon War Ceasefire

US President Joe Biden welcomed as "good news" the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Joe Biden welcomed as "good news" the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. SAUL LOEB / AFP

World leaders have welcomed a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which came into force on Wednesday morning (0200 GMT).
Here are key reactions from around the world.
United States and France
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will protect Israel from the threat of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and create the conditions for a "lasting calm", US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said ahead of the truce coming into force.
"The announcement today will cease the fighting in Lebanon, and secure Israel from the threat of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations operating from Lebanon," the leaders said in a joint statement.
The United States and France will work "to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented" and lead international efforts for "capacity-building" of the Lebanese army, they added.
Biden welcomed the deal as "good news" and also said the United States would lead a fresh effort to secure a truce between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
Macron said the Lebanon ceasefire should "open the path" for an ending to the war in Gaza.
Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President Biden for his "involvement in securing the ceasefire agreement".
He told Biden in a call that he appreciated the US leader's "understanding that Israel will maintain its freedom of action in enforcing it", according to Netanyahu's office.
Ahead of Israel's approval of the deal, Netanyahu said the "length of the ceasefire depends on what happens in Lebanon" and the truce would allow Israel to "intensify" pressure on Hamas and focus on the "Iranian threat".
Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the ceasefire was a "fundamental step" towards restoring stability in the region.
Thanking France and the United States for their involvement, Mikati also reiterated his government's commitment to "strengthen the army's presence in the south".
Iran
Iran, a backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas, welcomed the end of Israel's "aggression" in Lebanon, after the ceasefire came into force.
"Welcoming the news" of the end of Israel's "aggression against Lebanon", foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement, stressing Iran's "firm support for the Lebanese government, nation and resistance".
Germany
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed the deal, hailing it as "a ray of hope for the entire region".
"People on both sides of the border want to live in genuine and lasting security," Baerbock said in a statement, calling the deal "a success for diplomacy".
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised a "long overdue" ceasefire that would "provide some measure of relief to the civilian populations" of both Israel and Lebanon.
Calling for the truce to be "turned into a lasting political solution in Lebanon", Starmer vowed to be at the "forefront of efforts to break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East".
European Union
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed the "very encouraging news" of the ceasefire, saying it would increase Lebanon's "internal security and stability".
The announcement was welcomed news "first and foremost for the Lebanese and Israeli people affected by the fighting", Von der Leyen said on X.
"Lebanon will have an opportunity to increase internal security and stability thanks to Hezbollah's reduced influence," she said.
United Nations
A top UN official welcomed the ceasefire agreement, but warned that "considerable work lies ahead" to implement the deal.
"Nothing less than the full and unwavering commitment of both parties is required," UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said in a statement.