Houthi Directs: US, British and UN Personnel to Leave Yemen

Houthi Directs: US, British and UN Personnel to Leave Yemen to leave within a month. The authorities in Houthi-controlled Sanaa issued a letter on January 20. The letter directs US and British UN staff to leave within a month. The letter emphasized that employees must be prepared to depart immediately after the 24-hour notice letter.

Despite controlling only a fraction of Yemen’s territory, the Houthi rebels exert influence over most of the country’s population centers.

US Strikes:

A UN official, choosing anonymity, mentioned they are anticipating the next moves. Peter Hawkins, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, is British, adding a layer of significance to the expulsion.

Following joint US and UK strikes against the Houthis, responding to their attacks on shipping, the United States launched additional strikes.

In retaliation, the United States, along with Britain, carried out a second set of joint strikes on Tuesday.

Houthi’s A Global Terrorist Group:

Last week, Washington labeled the Houthis a “global terrorist group,”. It reverse the 2021 decision aimed at facilitating aid delivery to Yemen.

The Houthis, in a nearly decade-long civil war, are fighting against government forces supported by Saudi Arabia.

The conflict has plunged Yemen, the poorest Arabian Peninsula country, into a severe humanitarian crisis, deemed one of the world’s worst by the UN.

Since mid-November, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones from Yemen’s coast, targeting shipping they claim is linked to Israel in solidarity with Gaza Palestinians.

Gaza, besieged by Israel, faces ongoing attacks after a surprise assault by Hamas on October 7.

Defiant in response to US and British strikes, the Houthis continue targeting ships, prompting the US-led coalition to patrol the Red Sea for commercial traffic protection.