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Houthi Leader Urges Support for War Effort, UN Warns against Famine in Yemen

People queue to collect food rations at a food distribution center in Sanaa, Yemen March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
People queue to collect food rations at a food distribution center in Sanaa, Yemen March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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Houthi Leader Urges Support for War Effort, UN Warns against Famine in Yemen

People queue to collect food rations at a food distribution center in Sanaa, Yemen March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
People queue to collect food rations at a food distribution center in Sanaa, Yemen March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

UN humanitarians have painted a morbid picture of what is in store for Yemen, where more than 16 million people are going hungry this year, tens of thousands of people are already living in famine-like conditions, and 5 million more are just one step away.

Yemen has been in the throes of a wrenching war since Iran-backed Houthi militias launched a nationwide insurgency around six years ago.

While the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) raised the alarm on worsening living conditions in the war-torn country, Houthi leaders came out in strong opposition to peace efforts and reaffirmed their determination to press on with the violence.

“Supporting battles is the only true and effective war to preserve achievements,” tweeted Mohammed Ali al-Houthi on Saturday, adding that work is underway to garner more reinforcement for fighting from tribes, officials, and civilians.

In a briefing of the current humanitarian situation in Yemen, OCHA revealed that many Yemenis are struggling with food insecurity during Islam’s holy month of fasting, Ramadan. They cannot secure their daily meals under the crushing weight of steep prices that have been hiked by over 200% since conflict broke out in 2015.

“In Yemen, the humanitarian situation is falling off a cliff, and more than 20 million Yemenis need humanitarian assistance,” said OCHA.

According to the agency, the depletion of foreign currency reserves drove inflation up and eroded the purchasing power of Yemenis. This cut back Yemenis’ access to food.

To date, sources of foreign currency inflow in Yemen – especially oil exports, humanitarian funding, and bilateral financial support – remain constrained.

In March, the Yemeni rial hit a record low, resulting in another increase in food prices.

The increase in the cost of food is forcing Yemenis to reduce the number and size of their daily meals, borrow food or request help from friends and relatives, and rely on less expensive food.

In the long term, these negative coping strategies are likely to have a detrimental effect on people’s health, making them more vulnerable to food insecurity, malnutrition, waterborne diseases, and other disease outbreaks.

Given the increasing risks of famine in Yemen, the UN urged the international community to act before the humanitarian situation in the battle-scarred country falls off a cliff.

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Arab World

Iraq Shakes Up Top Security and Economic Posts in Surprise Reshuffle

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during talks with US presidential envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad, June 16, 2026. (Iraqi Government Media)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during talks with US presidential envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad, June 16, 2026. (Iraqi Government Media)
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Iraq Shakes Up Top Security and Economic Posts in Surprise Reshuffle

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during talks with US presidential envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad, June 16, 2026. (Iraqi Government Media)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during talks with US presidential envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad, June 16, 2026. (Iraqi Government Media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has carried out a surprise reshuffle of senior security and economic posts, removing or replacing three prominent figures in moves that come just days after high-level talks with US presidential envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad.

The changes include the appointment of Bassem al-Badri as head of the National Security Service, replacing Abdul Karim al-Basri, widely known as Abu Ali al-Basri. The veteran security official had long been associated with the Interior Ministry’s elite Falcon Intelligence Cell and has been one of Iraq’s most influential intelligence figures over the past decade.

Abu Ali al-Basri played a central role in directing sensitive intelligence operations and tracking leaders of al-Qaeda, ISIS and members of the former Baath Party. During former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki’s second term from 2010 to 2014, he became highly influential while overseeing critical security matters. The Falcon Intelligence Cell was frequently described as the intelligence body closest to the commander-in-chief’s office during that period.

His successor, al-Badri, has served since 2013 as head of the de-Baathification department within Iraq’s Higher National Commission for Accountability and Justice.

Ali al-Allaq was reportedly relieved of his duties as governor of the Central Bank of Iraq. He is expected to be succeeded by Nizar Nasser, who heads the bank’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Office.

Al-Allaq oversaw Iraqi monetary policy through a period marked by major financial and economic challenges. Nasser’s appointment comes as Baghdad faces growing pressure to tighten oversight of the financial sector and strengthen efforts to combat money laundering and illicit financing.

The reshuffle also reportedly includes the dismissal of National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and the appointment of Qasim al-Aboudi as a replacement, adding another significant security dimension to the changes affecting key state institutions.

The Iraqi government has yet to issue an official explanation for the decisions or indicate whether they form part of a broader restructuring of the country’s security and economic apparatus.

The moves follow recent talks in Baghdad between al-Zaidi and Barrack that, according to official statements, produced understandings on security, economic cooperation and broader bilateral relations.

Iraqi officials said the discussions yielded agreement on a package of measures aimed at reinforcing the state’s monopoly on arms, advancing the disarmament of armed factions operating outside government control, and providing security guarantees for American companies investing in Iraq.

The developments come ahead of an anticipated summit between al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump at the White House in mid-July. Baghdad is seeking to strengthen ties with Washington and attract foreign investment while simultaneously reshaping key security and economic portfolios at home.

Arab World

Egyptian Sailors’ Hostage Crisis in Somalia Deepens

An armed pirate takes part in the hijacking of a vessel off Somalia’s coast (File photo: Reuters) 
An armed pirate takes part in the hijacking of a vessel off Somalia’s coast (File photo: Reuters) 
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Egyptian Sailors’ Hostage Crisis in Somalia Deepens

An armed pirate takes part in the hijacking of a vessel off Somalia’s coast (File photo: Reuters) 
An armed pirate takes part in the hijacking of a vessel off Somalia’s coast (File photo: Reuters) 

The crisis involving Egyptian sailors held aboard the oil tanker M/T Eureka has taken a more complicated turn after Somali pirates who seized the vessel off Yemen’s coast last month reportedly raised their ransom demand from $2 million to $3 million in exchange for the crew’s release.

More than 45 days have passed without any clear indication of a breakthrough since the tanker was hijacked on May 2 near Yemen’s Shabwa governorate. The vessel was then sailed through the Gulf of Aden to the Somali coast. The crew comprises 12 sailors, including eight Egyptians and four Indians.

According to a statement issued Wednesday by the sailors’ families, negotiations had previously made progress, resulting in an agreement between the shipowner and cargo owner on one side and the pirates on the other to pay a ransom for the hostages’ release. However, delays in transferring the agreed sum prompted the captors to threaten to scrap the deal and increase their demands.

Negotiations Hit Obstacles

Captain El-Sayed El-Shazly, head of Egypt’s Maritime Officers Syndicate, said efforts to secure the sailors’ release had recently encountered setbacks. He indicated that the pirates raised their demand to $3 million after an earlier agreement with the vessel’s owner on a $2 million payment.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, El-Shazly said Egypt’s Foreign Ministry and Maritime Safety Authority had undertaken contacts and diplomatic efforts at various levels to support negotiations. He categorically ruled out military intervention, warning that any rescue operation would entail serious risks to the hostages’ lives and safety.

With release talks stalled, relatives fear the crisis could become even more difficult to resolve. In their statement, the families warned that continued delays would “further complicate the situation and squander the strenuous efforts” undertaken by the authorities, urging the swift implementation of proposed solutions.

The families said the sailors have endured “45 days of pain, anxiety and anticipation” under difficult humanitarian conditions, including shortages of drinking water and adequate food. They have also launched a social media solidarity campaign under several hashtags, most notably “Save the Sailors.”

Amira Abu Saada, the wife of detained sailor Mohamed Radi El-Mahsab, described the ordeal as increasingly difficult as uncertainty surrounding the hostages’ fate drags on.

“Intermittent phone calls were our only source of reassurance,” she told Asharq Al-Awsat, noting that such contacts have become increasingly rare. The last call she received from her husband came on the second day of Eid al-Adha, more than three weeks ago.

Safety Questions Resurface

Since the hijacking in early May, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has said it has been closely following the case through coordination with the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu and contacts with Somali authorities aimed at ensuring the sailors’ safety and securing their release as quickly as possible.

The continued complications surrounding the case have revived debate over safety procedures and regulations governing Egyptian sailors working aboard foreign vessels.

“The incident underscores the need for a serious discussion about regulating the employment of Egyptian sailors abroad,” El-Shazly said. He called for stricter standards governing service on foreign ships, particularly vessels facing questions over safety compliance and operating conditions.

For years, piracy off the Horn of Africa posed a major threat to international shipping. Attacks peaked in 2008 and continued for years, disrupting one of the world’s most important maritime trade corridors. After declining significantly in recent years, piracy incidents have resurfaced since late 2023 amid growing regional security tensions and rising risks to global shipping routes.

 

 

Arab World

Israeli Military Strikes Southern Lebanon in Intense Fighting, At Least 18 Dead

Buildings damaged by Israeli strikes are seen through shattered glass from the Jabal Amel Hospital in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Buildings damaged by Israeli strikes are seen through shattered glass from the Jabal Amel Hospital in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Israeli Military Strikes Southern Lebanon in Intense Fighting, At Least 18 Dead

Buildings damaged by Israeli strikes are seen through shattered glass from the Jabal Amel Hospital in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Buildings damaged by Israeli strikes are seen through shattered glass from the Jabal Amel Hospital in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Israel’s military said Friday its forces struck targets throughout southern Lebanon overnight as Hezbollah reported intense fighting in the area, threatening the nascent agreement between Iran and the United States to end their war.

"During the night, the army struck and continues to strike Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in several areas in southern Lebanon," the Israeli military said in a statement.

"The intensive Israeli airstrikes carried out from midnight until this morning have prevented the evacuation of the martyrs and wounded, and have resulted in a preliminary toll of 18 martyrs and 33 wounded" in at least 10 villages and towns, the Lebanese health ministry said.

Israeli military vehicles and an Israeli flag, seen in a village inside south Lebanon close to the border as seen from northern Israel, June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Gil Eliyahu

 

Hezbollah said its fighters had targeted "three Merkava tanks with guided missiles, which led to their destruction.”

The group said Israeli forces "consisting of an armored platoon and an infantry platoon (tried) to infiltrate towards the northern side of the Ali al-Taher hills" -- a strategic site overlooking the key town of Nabatieh.

"The clashes are still ongoing," Hezbollah said in the statement released in the early hours of Friday.

Continued fighting in Lebanon could unravel the newly signed deal, which calls for an immediate halt to military operations “on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” where Israel has been battling Hezbollah, and for ensuring Lebanon’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to withdraw, saying Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon until the threat from Hezbollah has been eliminated.

The attacks came as planned talks in Switzerland between Iran and the United States over their efforts to reach a permanent end to the Iran war were delayed.

US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday put off his trip to Switzerland where he had been set to lead the talks.

The White House blamed logistical issues.

US President Donald Trump signed the initial pact with Iran on Wednesday while dining with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles, which took immediate effect.

In comments following the signing, Vance offered a blunt warning to Israel, saying Trump was “the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.”