Houthis increase military activity near Bab al-Mandab and loot aid

Reports indicate that Houthi forces are increasing military activity along Yemen's western coast, specifically near the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. Sources suggest that experts from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been active in the region, assisting with the installation of radar systems and the excavation of tunnels in the highlands overlooking the Red Sea. These movements include efforts near Al-Makha and Zaqar Island to bolster military positions in critical maritime corridors.

Simultaneously, the Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights has issued warnings regarding the looting of humanitarian and medical facilities on the western coast. The ministry accused Houthi militias of attacking clinics, food and medicine warehouses, and water and shelter projects funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre. These actions, particularly in the Al-Khawkha district, threaten to halt essential services for thousands of civilians and displaced persons, potentially violating international humanitarian law.