-
UN Report: Houthi Ports Are Outlets for Prohibited Weapons Smuggling
-
The increase of suspicious ships in Houthi ports reveals dangerous gaps in the international monitoring system, especially with challenges facing UN inspection mechanisms

The UN Security Council Sanctions Committee, through its panel of experts, revealed that the ports of Hodeidah and Salif, under Houthi control in western Yemen, are being used as centers for unloading large shipments of military equipment.
The new report showed that 6 ships entered Houthi-controlled ports without obtaining permits from the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism, indicating that the team is investigating these ships' potential involvement in illegally transporting prohibited goods to the Houthis.
The report explained that ships heading to Houthi ports are subject to inspection by the UN verification mechanism in Djibouti, clarifying that the mechanism is not responsible for granting final transit permits to ships heading to Red Sea ports.
The report monitored the lifting of all restrictions imposed by the Arab Coalition and Yemeni government on Houthi imports since February 2023, except for prohibited goods, noting a significant increase in the number of ships and variety of goods heading to these ports. However, the mechanism faced severe funding difficulties and sustainability issues during the past period.
The team's investigations revealed the use of various ships carrying prohibited or restricted goods with forged registration documents from Sri Lanka.
In the same context, a ship docked at Salif port on April 25, 2024, claiming to fly the Sri Lankan flag, but Sri Lanka denied the existence of such registration.
The experts' report indicated the Houthi group's involvement in selling and trafficking archaeological pieces and artifacts that represent part of Yemen's heritage outside the country.
Levant-Agencies
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!