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Yemeni FM: Houthi Officials Involved in Crimes Blacklisted...Peace Is Their Enemy

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak (PHOTO CREDIT: Nawaf al-Mutairi)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak (PHOTO CREDIT: Nawaf al-Mutairi)
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Yemeni FM: Houthi Officials Involved in Crimes Blacklisted...Peace Is Their Enemy

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak (PHOTO CREDIT: Nawaf al-Mutairi)
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak (PHOTO CREDIT: Nawaf al-Mutairi)

The Yemeni government is preparing to blacklist several Houthi leaders and entities in implementation of its decision to classify the Iran-backed militia as a terrorist group.

Houthi government, military, and political officials, alongside any individual who has been proven to be involved in crimes, wars, or crimes that violate international humanitarian law will be blacklisted.

Moreover, the Yemeni government will pursue Houthi interests and financial networks around the world.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat via videoconference, affirmed that designating Houthis as a terrorist organization is not merely symbolic and that it will have repercussions on the group.

He, however, asserted that the blacklisting of Houthis will not affect humanitarian relief operations in Yemen. Mubarak also reminded that peace remains the group’s first and foremost enemy.

The Yemeni government decided to classify the Houthis as a terrorist group, following the militia’s insistence on targeting vital oil facilities. This matter damages the livelihood of Yemeni citizens, according to Mubarak.

“All the group’s actions and violations against the Yemeni people are terrorist in nature,” affirmed Mubarak, nothing that some Houthi leaders have been placed on international terrorist lists for their horrific practices, such as raping women and recruiting child soldiers.

Additionally, Houthis have bombed mosques and attacked civilian and economic institutions both inside Yemen and in neighboring Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

“What we have been saying for years is being echoed by the whole world, the UN Security Council, and the Arab League,” emphasized Mubarak.

“Houthis must know that they will not go unpunished for everything they do towards civilians, according to the lowest principles of international law. For us, the issue is moral and constitutional,” asserted the top diplomat.

The Yemeni government has adopted a package of urgent procedural policies to apply the National Defense Council's decision designating the Houthis as a terrorist group, revealed Mubarak. The procedures focused on two main legal and economic courses.

Under the legal course, blacklists would be updated to include Houthi political and field leaders, people working for the group in the capacity of ministers or heads of government institutions, people blacklisted by other countries and bodies, people convicted and involved in war crimes or human rights violations, connivers involved in targeting economic facilities and threatening shipment companies.

The Yemeni government has also prepared a list of entities and companies involved in funding Houthi terrorists. Necessary steps were also taken to track down funding networks abroad. All these entities and firms will be banned.

“We will communicate with all countries through official, legal and security channels to ensure the circulation of blacklisted names and entities. This is to prosecute all terrorists, and to ask countries to freeze their funds,” Mubarak told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Additionally, Mubarak revealed that there will also be many other measures that will be announced in due course.

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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.