Yemen warns of ongoing Iranian support for terrorist Houthi militia

Yemen has warned that ongoing Iranian support for the terrorist Houthi militia with weapons and military technology is prolonging the war in Yemen. The government called for the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216, and for strengthening international efforts to halt arms smuggling, cut off funding sources, and pursue criminal networks.

The warning came as Yemen participated in the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which concluded today in Vienna. The conference discussed ways to enhance international cooperation in combating arms smuggling, cross-border criminal networks, money laundering, and illicit trafficking in line with the convention and its protocols.

Yemen’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Haitham Shujaa Al-Din, highlighted in Yemen’s address to the conference the "Operation Dawn of Yemen" to restore legitimate state institutions. He pointed to the consequences of the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militia coup, which undermined state institutions and the rule of law, and contributed to the expansion of criminal activities, smuggling networks, and illicit financing.

He also drew attention to the siege imposed on the city of Taiz and the killing and starvation faced by civilians, expressing condemnation of attacks by the terrorist Houthi militia on Al-Maashiq Palace, Aden and Riyan airports, and the targeting of Shabwa province.

Yemen also strongly condemned the terrorist Houthi militia’s attacks targeting King Khalid Airport and ongoing assaults on Saudi Arabia, stressing that these actions threaten regional security and stability and have repercussions beyond Yemen’s borders.

Ambassador Shujaa Al-Din affirmed that restoring state institutions and strengthening the rule of law are fundamental to combating organized crime, terrorism, and arms smuggling. He reviewed government efforts to develop justice and law enforcement institutions and to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

He also praised ongoing cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, including support programs for the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, and Yemeni Coast Guard, calling for enhanced technical support and capacity building to protect Yemen’s coasts and international navigation.

Yemen reiterated its commitment to effective implementation of the convention, stressing that strengthening Yemeni state institutions and international cooperation to confront smuggling, illicit financing, and pursuing criminal networks are essential to safeguarding regional and international security and the safety of global trade.

The session concluded with the adoption of a number of resolutions to enhance international cooperation in combating transnational organized crime, including a resolution on protecting cultural property from illicit trafficking.

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