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UN Report: Houthi Ports Are Outlets for Prohibited Weapons Smuggling
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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
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