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)
TT

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.



Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Strikes Kill 24 Palestinians

A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
TT

Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Strikes Kill 24 Palestinians

A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
A boy walks past a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike at Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)

Gaza's civil defense agency said on Wednesday that Israeli strikes killed at least 24 people across the Palestinian territory, with Israel's military saying it had targeted Hamas militants overnight.

The latest violence, following more than 15 months of war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, comes as truce mediator Qatar said negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal were in their "final stages”

The civil defense agency said in a statement that 11 bodies were brought to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip, after Israel struck a family home in Deir el-Balah city during the night.

A seven-year-old boy and three teenagers were among the dead, the agency said.

A separate strike targeted a school building used as shelter for war-displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, killing seven people and injuring several others, the civil defense agency said.

A third strike at dawn hit a house in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, killing six people and injuring seven, the agency added.

The Israeli military confirmed that its forces had carried out multiple strikes overnight in Gaza, saying in a statement that they were "precise" and targeted "terrorist operatives.”

Over the past 24 hours, the military said it had struck more than 50 targets across the Gaza Strip.

Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 46,707 Palestinians and wounded 110,265 since Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said on Wednesday.