Al-Houthi, int’l groups in Yemen: When interests come together to support Iran’s “tails”

Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar

Wars have their principles, and international law has its strict rules, which states adhere to in the most severe and complicated positions, but terrorist militias do not recognize these principles, which is what happens from the Houthi militias, the political arm of the mullahs’ regime in Yemen, and in the areas under

its geographical control.

Al-Dhalea governorate is located in the middle of Yemen, almost completely under the control of Al-Houthi. The headquarters of 5 international organizations in al-Dhalea ‘were hit by three explosions, on December 22, 2019, without

confirming data from these organizations about the nature of the attack or the number of victims.

The explosion targeted the organizations, “My Heart Corps”, “ACTED”, “International Rescue Committee Organization”, “Oxfam” and “Haya Center for Women Development”, all organizations working in the field of relief and international development, and spread in several countries around the world.

The head of the media center of the Yemeni Al-Dhalea Front, Majid Al-Shuaibi, stated that international organizations have been targeted by terrorist groups with RBGs, noting that the Houthis’ religious sermons in

Al-Dhalea mosques focused on the need to target organizations, claiming that they contradict tribal traditions and customs in the governorate.

Al-Houthi and international organizations: The ebb and flow

The relationship of the militia supported by the mullahs regime with international organizations has witnessed the ebb and flow since 2014, which negatively reflected on the solution to the Yemeni crisis until now.

The organizations have dealt with the militia in two contrasting ways, sometimes cooperation takes place and the international institutions in Houthi see a recognized partner in power and give it a hand and help, and at other times, Houthis see these institutions as a hindrance

to their goals, and seeks revenge and prevent it from performing its work.

Several international organizations have provided clear support to the Houthi militia, such as the United Nations Development Program. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator concluded a memorandum of understanding with the Houthi group in September 2018, stipulating the establishment of an air bridge to transport wounded and injured militia out for a period of 6 months.

Houthis in the face of international institutions

Despite the help of international organizations, the Houthi militia is working to confront these organizations and harm their elements present in Yemen, and obstruct their work, especially in the areas it controls geographically.

The Houthi permission to target the headquarters of 5 international organizations in Al-Dhalea was not the first of its kind, but there were previous confrontations between the two parties, especially with regard to food aid for the Yemeni people.

Liz Grande, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, pointed out that the Houthi militia poses obstacles to completing the United Nations humanitarian relief programs in areas under Houthi control.

Grandi highlighted, in July 2019, that the Houthi militia refuses to respond to any initiative to dissolve or facilitate the work of international staff, threatening to stop the work of these programs in these areas in order to preserve the safety and security of elements of the international organization.