November 20-27: Aid Slowly Trickles Into Yemen As Blockade Continues
11/20
Reuters reports on a statement made by the leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The group claims it has not sent any weapons to Yemen and also denies involvement in the firing of a ballistic missile toward Riyadh that originated from Yemen.
11/21
The Guardian reports on a statement from former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell on the UK’s complicity in the current famine in Yemen. He stated that the UK is “dangerously complicit” in a policy that is “directly promoting a famine and the collective punishment of an entire population.”
ABC News reports that the Australian Department of Defence has approved four different arms sales or licenses to Saudi Arabia. The Australian Navy reportedly conducted joint-training exercises with Saudi Arabia in August, raising concerns about Australian complicity in Saudi human rights violations.
11/22
Foreign Policy reports that the Trump administration is considering declassification of intelligence that allegedly links Iran to short-range ballistic missile attacks against Saudi Arabia that originated in Yemen. White House officials are also attempting to persuade UN diplomats and members of the Panel of Experts that Iran is arming Yemen’s Houthis.
The New York Times reports on the numerous war crimes being committed in Yemen’s civil war. The Saudi-led coalition’s blockade, the targeting of hospitals, and numerous civilian casualties indicate both parties to the conflict are liable for war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity.
Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia has agreed to purchase $7 billion worth of arms from U.S. companies Raytheon and Boeing. Congress has not yet been notified of the planned sale.
11/26
NPR reports that the mothers of individuals who have been disappeared in Yemen continue to protest and advocate on their children’s behalf. The Abductees’ Mothers’ Association works to free relatives who have been disappeared by militias in Yemen and draw greater attention to the their situation.
The BBC reports that the Saudi-led coalition has allowed a UN shipment of food to pass through its blockade of ports throughout Yemen. The UN’s humanitarian aid office has said access to the port of Hudaydah remains blocked.
CNN reports that planes carrying humanitarian aid workers and vaccines have been allowed to enter Yemen, following the closure of Yemen’s ports and airports by the Saudi-led coalition.
11/27
US News and World Report writes that the Supreme Court will not hear a case brought on behalf of civilian victims of drone strikes in Yemen. The victims sued the US government for wrongfully killing civilians but the case was dismissed by a US court. The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the dismissal.