Yemeni Army: Houthis Smuggled African Fighters to Hodeidah

A Houthi militant stands guard on a street where a pro-Houthi tribal gathering is being held in Yemen's capital Sanaa December 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
A Houthi militant stands guard on a street where a pro-Houthi tribal gathering is being held in Yemen's capital Sanaa December 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
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Yemeni Army: Houthis Smuggled African Fighters to Hodeidah

A Houthi militant stands guard on a street where a pro-Houthi tribal gathering is being held in Yemen's capital Sanaa December 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
A Houthi militant stands guard on a street where a pro-Houthi tribal gathering is being held in Yemen's capital Sanaa December 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi

The Yemeni army has accused Houthi militias of smuggling dozens of African fighters into the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah to fight alongside the insurgents.

Yemeni National Army spokesman Brigadier General Abdo Abdullah Majali told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis have forced a large number of migrants coming from the Horn of Africa region to enroll in their camps.

The insurgents later deployed them on several fronts, he said.

Majali urged the international community to take action to stop the militias from recruiting African migrants and children.

The Yemeni army says it has made great advances on several fronts mainly in Saada and Nahm provinces, which are at close proximity to the Houthi-controled capital of Sanaa.

In the past two months, the army has been able to bring under its control large swaths of territory. Houthis have also suffered major losses.

The army has found two secret sites to manufacture drones in Hodeidah. But it has so far not targeted them because they are located in areas inhabited by civilians.

It said it is studying all options to deal with the sites in line with the rules of engagement.

Majali accused the Houthis of recently transferring their heavy weaponry to inhabited areas to avoid being targeted by the Arab Coalition.

Any drones used by the Houthis would not help them make gains, Majali said.



EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
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EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)

The European Union on Monday condemned new Israeli measures to tighten control of the West Bank and pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, AFP reported.

"The European Union condemns recent decisions by Israel's security cabinet to expand Israeli control in the West Bank. This move is another step in the wrong direction," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists.


Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The atrocities unleashed on El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region last October were a "preventable human rights catastrophe", the United Nations said Monday, warning they now risked being repeated in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

 

"My office sounded the alarm about the risk of mass atrocities in the besieged city of El-Fasher for more than a year ... but our warnings were ignored," UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

 

He added that he was now "extremely concerned that these violations and abuses may be repeated in the Kordofan region".

 

 

 

 


Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned decisions by Israeli occupation authorities to impose fundamental changes on the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed agreements, SPA reported.

In a statement, the Arab League said the measures include facilitating the confiscation of private Palestinian property and transferring planning and licensing authorities in the city of Hebron and the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque to occupation authorities.

It warned of the serious repercussions of these actions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reaffirmed the Arab League’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.