Yemen in April 2023

Yemen in April 2023

April 3, 2023

Torrents Flood the Streets of Sana’a, and the Houthis Ignore the Suffering of the Population (Al Sharq Al Awsat). Witnesses in Sana’a told Asharq Al-Awsat that many neighborhoods and streets in Sana’a, including Al-Tahrir neighborhood, Jamal and Hael streets, Al-Sunaina, Al-Raqas, Al-Rabat, and others, have turned into lakes due to heavy rains. The torrential rains flowed into several shops and citizens’ homes and besieged others for hours amid the militia’s disregard and the absence of its civil defense teams.
Saudi-Russian Collaboration to Halt Iran’s Arms Smuggling to Houthis (Al Khaleej Online). According to Intelligence Online, Saudi Arabia relies on Russia to mediate in resolving the Yemen conflict and preventing weapons from reaching Houthis. As a result, senior officials from the Saudi General Intelligence Presidency met with their Russian counterparts. According to the site, Russia has mobilized its foreign intelligence services to cooperate with Riyadh to prevent Iran from delivering weapons to the Houthi militia.
US Justice Department Plans to Keep Iranian Weapons Seized En Route to Yemen (Al Arabiya). The US Justice Department on Friday filed a forfeiture complaint to take possession of more than one million rounds of ammunition and thousands of other weapons that were seized in transit from Iran to Yemen’s Houthis. Previous media reports have suggested that the US wants to send weapons to Ukraine.

Nine Yemeni Family Members Died as a Result of Torrential Rains (Al Hadath). Sources stated that among the dead were women and children, all of whom were from one family. Since the beginning of the week, heavy rains and torrential rains have caused the death of 13 people, including children, in several Yemeni governorates, as well as significant material damage to homes and camps for the displaced, and sweeping away many agricultural lands and properties.

Yemen Prisoner Swap to Start on April 13, Will Last Three Days (Al Arabiya). The Houthis will release 181 prisoners, including Saudis and Sudanese, in exchange for 706 detainees held by government forces, according to an agreement reached last month in Switzerland.

US Envoy for Yemen Will Meet with Yemeni, Saudi, and International Partners to Discuss Next Steps in Peace Process (Al Hadath). The US State Department has announced that its envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, is embarking on a tour of Gulf countries to advance the peace process and end the country’s ongoing war. The statement also noted that “after more than a year of intensive diplomatic efforts by the United States and the United Nations, and with support from regional partners such as Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, Yemen is witnessing an unprecedented opportunity for peace.”
Yemeni Presidential Council Confirms Full Readiness for Peace (Al Hadath). The Head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, said, “The Presidential Leadership Council and the government are committed to the pursuit of a just and comprehensive peace, demonstrating complete readiness for this accomplishment, which serves the interests of the Yemeni people and their aspirations to restore state institutions, security, stability, and development.”

Saudi Arabia Frees 104 Houthis, Aiming to Foster Yemeni Dialogue Atmosphere (Al Sharq Al Awst). The International Committee of the Red Cross (CRC) confirmed the transfer of prisoners from the group’s prisoners to the internationally recognized government. This is expected to involve releasing 700 individuals from the group’s prisoners in exchange for 700 detainees and prisoners from the internationally recognized government.

One of the Largest Stampede Incidents in the World (Al Arabiya). A Houthi security official informed AFP that 85 people were killed and over 322 injured, including 50 in critical condition, due to the stampede. The official, who spoke anonymously, noted that women and children were among the fatalities… Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunfire before the onset of the stampede.

12 Dead and Wounded in Houthi Massacre Turning Eid into Funeral in Taiz (Al Hadath). The victims, who are from the same family, were visiting a relative when the Houthis fired the shell to turn the joy of Eid into a funeral.