Houthis Threaten to End Truce Ahead of Grundberg's Security Council Briefing

Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani with the US ambassador to Yemen Stephen Fagin in Riyadh Thursday (Saba)
Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani with the US ambassador to Yemen Stephen Fagin in Riyadh Thursday (Saba)
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Houthis Threaten to End Truce Ahead of Grundberg's Security Council Briefing

Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani with the US ambassador to Yemen Stephen Fagin in Riyadh Thursday (Saba)
Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani with the US ambassador to Yemen Stephen Fagin in Riyadh Thursday (Saba)

The Houthi militias threatened they would not agree to extending the humanitarian and military truce again without obtaining economic gains.

This came as UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg is scheduled to appear before the Security Council on Monday for the monthly briefing.

Houthi spokesman Mohammad Felita warned in an interview with an Iranian channel that the chances of extending the truce might be the last if a mechanism for paying employees' salaries is not found in the militia-controlled areas.

He claimed that a comprehensive ceasefire would not be implemented if the humanitarian issues were not resolved, noting that the coalition to support legitimacy should end its support for legitimate government.

Felita threatened the return of clashes, warning that the militias would target oil facilities and ports in the liberated areas seeking to pressure the legitimacy to share oil and gas proceeds.

The spokesman confirmed that the group would continue to mobilize its forces to confront any development.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni Minister of Information, Muammar al-Eryani, accused Houthis of escalating the situation and prolonging the blockade on Taiz.

Eryani asserted during his meeting with US Ambassador Stephen Fagin that Iran's support of the militias contributes to undermining the truce and obstructing peace efforts.

The Minister reiterated the government's adherence to peace based on the three references, noting that the Yemeni political leadership made many concessions to ensure the success of the truce.

He explained that the government implemented all its obligations under the ceasefire terms, accusing the militias of reneging on their commitments and refusing to end the siege of Taiz.

Eryani noted that Houthis were indifferent to the suffering of citizens in Taiz, increased the recruitment of children, and used Hodeidah port revenues to mobilize fighters and weapons.

He warned against the Houthi militia's exploitation of the truce to organize its ranks and launch a new round of military escalation, stressing the need to exert real international pressure on the militias to force them to engage in good faith in efforts to calm and establish peace.

He condemned the Iranian role in his country, saying it undermines truce efforts, uses the Houthi militia as a tool to destabilize Yemen, undermines regional security and stability, and threatens the safety of ships.

The US administration's decision to remove the Houthi militia from the lists of terrorism did not contribute to advancing calm efforts, said the Minister, noting that the militia escalated its military operations and aggressive approach.

He called on the US administration and the international community to pressure the Houthi militia, reclassify it as a terrorist group, prosecute its leaders, and bring them to trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Minister accused the militias of violating human rights, recalling their displacement of minorities such as Bahais and Jews and journalists' continued kidnapping and torture.

The Yemeni government is working to end the war, establish sustainable peace, build a safe country for all Yemeni, and enhance confidence with neighboring countries, the region, and the world said the Minister.

Eryani stressed that peace would only be achieved by disarming the Houthi militia's medium and heavy weapons, stopping the smuggling of Iranian weapons, targeting the region, and threatening international interests.



At Least 69 Migrants Killed in Shipwreck off Morocco on Deadly Route to Spain

Guards on the Canary Islands during the rescue of a boat carrying 57 illegal immigrants (EPA)
Guards on the Canary Islands during the rescue of a boat carrying 57 illegal immigrants (EPA)
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At Least 69 Migrants Killed in Shipwreck off Morocco on Deadly Route to Spain

Guards on the Canary Islands during the rescue of a boat carrying 57 illegal immigrants (EPA)
Guards on the Canary Islands during the rescue of a boat carrying 57 illegal immigrants (EPA)

At least 69 people died after a boat headed from West Africa to the Canary Islands capsized off Morocco on Dec. 19, Malian authorities said, as data showed deaths of migrants attempting to reach Spain surged to an all-time high in 2024.

The makeshift boat was carrying around 80 people when it capsized. Only 11 survived, the Ministry of Malians Abroad said in a statement on Thursday, after collecting information to reconstruct the incident.

A crisis unit has been set up to monitor the situation, it added, Reuters reported. The Atlantic migration route from the coast of West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands, typically used by African migrants trying to reach mainland Spain, has seen a surge this year, with 41,425 arrivals in January-November already exceeding last year's record 39,910.

Years of conflict in the Sahel region that includes Mali, unemployment and the impact of climate change on farming communities are among the reasons why people attempt the crossing.

One person died among 300 people who arrived on six boats on Friday on the island of El Hierro in the Canaries, according to the Red Cross.

The Atlantic route, which includes departure points in Senegal and Gambia, Mauritania and Morocco, is the world's deadliest, according to migrant aid group Walking Borders.

In its annual report released this week, the group said 9,757 migrants died at sea in 2024 trying to reach the Spanish archipelago from Africa's Atlantic coast. A record 10,457 people - or nearly 30 people a day - died attempting to reach Spain this year from all routes, according to the report.

The route departing from Mauritania, which has been particularly well used this year by migrants leaving the Sahel region, was the deadliest, accounting for 6,829 deaths.