Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Nearly 1.4 million children, including many from Yemen, face “imminent death” from starvation, AP reports.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
A missile fired by Houthi forces killed Yemeni Brig. General Ahmad Sayf al-Yafa’i and six other officers of the Hadi government forces in Mokha today.
Saudi Arabia announced that they would donate $10 billion in aid to Yemen. $2 billion of this will go to Yemen’s central bank in order to stabilize the Yemeni rial, while $8 billion will be designated toward reconstruction efforts.
An arms shipment from Brazil was seized in November of 2015 by Saudi authorities and is suspected to have been bound for Houthi forces in Yemen. The weapons were shipped to the son of a known Yemeni arms dealer shortly after the Houthis were put under an arms embargo by the United Nations.
An article from the New York Times details newly released documents from the FBI which shed light on the role of the American cleric and leading al-Qaeda recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki in a failed bombing plot in 2009. Mr. Awlaki was killed by a drone strike in 2011, and was the father of Nawar al-Awlaki, the eight-year-old girl who was killed in the recent raid in Yakla.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Al-Arabiya reports that government forces have regained control of a town north of Mokha, Yakhtul.
Meanwhile, 7.3 million people remain on the brink of starvation as Yemen’s health system fails.
Friday, February 24, 2017
The Norwegian Refugee Council staff and contracted driver that were reported detained on February 20 were released today.
Human Rights Watch recommends that the US investigate the January raid in Yakla, al-Bayda province, which killed at least 14 civilians.
At least 8 government soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber in Zinjibar, Abyan province in southern Yemen. The bomber is suspected to have had ties to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
Additionally, President Trump is reportedly considering designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the country’s most powerful security force, as a terrorist organization. Such a move would likely further inflame the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released an update on the conflict on the Western coast of Yemen. They emphasize that the recent escalation of conflict in the area has significantly worsened the humanitarian situation, resulting in 44,000 recently displaced people.
The Emirates Red Crescent was able to deliver medical supplies to Mokha hospital, including medicine, equipment, and food assistance.
Sunday, February 26
The father of the Navy SEAL killed in the recent raid in Bayda province refused to see President Trump during the return of his son’s body to the country. William Owens, the father of the deceased Chief William “Ryan” Owens, also urged the government to conduct an investigation of the raid. President Trump may reportedly support such an investigation.
Iran, meanwhile, has launched annual naval drills in Bab al-Mandab, among other areas,
Monday, February 27, 2017
A report from Middle East Eye focuses on the older generation of Yemeni soldiers, many of whom are forced by their economic struggles to continue fighting into their 50s and 60s.