Growing Houthi Violations Threaten to End Truce

A shell fired by the Houthi militia explodes near a Yemeni army site (Saba News Agency)
A shell fired by the Houthi militia explodes near a Yemeni army site (Saba News Agency)
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Growing Houthi Violations Threaten to End Truce

A shell fired by the Houthi militia explodes near a Yemeni army site (Saba News Agency)
A shell fired by the Houthi militia explodes near a Yemeni army site (Saba News Agency)

Houthi truce violations in Yemen have resulted in the death of over a thousand Yemenis, including soldiers and civilians, revealed Yemeni officials, adding that breaches by the Iran-backed militia threaten ending the ongoing, but fragile, UN-sponsored ceasefire.

Although the UN and its envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, underrate the danger of Houthi violations on battlefronts in Taiz, Dhale and Marib, a return to fighting on a larger scale is still a possibility in light of the recent Houthi mobilization on multiple fronts.

In a recent report, the Yemeni army stated that Iran-backed Houthi militias have committed more than 167 violations within 48 hours on Monday and Tuesday.

Truce breaches, according to the report, took place on the fronts of Hodeidah, Taiz, Dhale, Hajjah, Saada, Al-Jawf and Marib.

Army forces have also thwarted more than three Houthi infiltration attempts. The Houthis tried to infiltrate army positions west of Marib twice and once in Dhale.

In their attacks, Houthis have used artillery shelling, rocket-propelled grenades, and explosive drones.

At least 10 soldiers have been wounded or killed because of recent Houthi violations.

The Yemeni army accused the Houthi militia of escalating its activity in mobilizing reinforcements, digging trenches, and building fortifications, as well as deploying reconnaissance drones on various fronts.

“Houthis deliberately commit violations in blatant defiance of all UN and international resolutions,” said Captain Fadel al-Jalal, the 83rd Brigade’s morality supervisor.

Jalal confirmed that the truce on the fronts of Dhale was upheld by one party only, which is the army and the pro-government popular resistance forces.

Meanwhile, Houthis continued violations with heavy weapons such as artillery shelling and the use of medium weapons, as well as drones.

Jalal believes that “the most effective way to curb the arrogance of the Houthi terrorist organization lies in launching a broad and comprehensive military operation on all fronts in Yemen.”

Such an operation, according to Jalal, would achieve military resolution and help in restoring the state and its hijacked institutions.



EU Exploring Support for New Gaza Administration Committee, Document Says

Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
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EU Exploring Support for New Gaza Administration Committee, Document Says

Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Palestinians push a cart past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the two-year Israeli offensives, in Gaza City, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

The European Union is exploring possible support for a new committee established to take over the civil administration of Gaza, according to a document produced by the bloc's diplomatic arm and seen by Reuters.

"The EU is engaging with the newly established transitional governance structures for Gaza," the European External Action Service wrote in a document circulated to member states on Tuesday.

"The EU is also exploring possible support to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza," it added.

European foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Gaza during a meeting in Brussels on February 23.


Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)

The Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Gaza on Wednesday, but a security source said the death appeared to have been caused by "friendly fire".

"Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, from HaYogev, a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

A security source, however, told AFP that the soldier appeared to have been "killed by friendly fire", without providing further details.

"The incident is still under investigation," the source added.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.


Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
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Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said the process of merging the SDF with Syrian government forces “may take some time,” despite expressing confidence in the eventual success of the agreement.

His remarks came after earlier comments in which he acknowledged differences with Damascus over the concept of “decentralization.”

Speaking at a tribal conference in the northeastern city of Hasakah on Tuesday, Abdi said the issue of integration would not be resolved quickly, but stressed that the agreement remains on track.

He said the deal reached last month stipulates that three Syrian army brigades will be created out of the SDF.

Abdi added that all SDF military units have withdrawn to their barracks in an effort to preserve stability and continue implementing the announced integration agreement with the Syrian state.

He also emphasized the need for armed forces to withdraw from the vicinity of the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), to be replaced by security forces tasked with maintaining order.