The Yemeni government said, on Tuesday, that it will sign a framework agreement within the next two days to reduce the cost of marine insurance for ships coming to ports under its control. This move comes in light of the decline in the performance of the government-controlled ports after lifting restrictions on the port of Al-Hudaydah, which is under the control of the Houthis. According to a government news agency, the Minister of Transport, Abd al-Salam Humaid, met in Aden with the resident representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Yemen, Zina Ali Ahmed, to discuss cooperation between the ministry and the development program and the final arrangements for signing a preliminary framework agreement to reduce the cost of marine insurance for ships coming to ports under the government control.
On Wednesday, Ahmed bin Mubarak, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, discussed with Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, the most recent developments within the Yemeni context and ongoing endeavors towards attaining peace. Mubarak raised concerns about the impact of economic warfare conducted by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group on the worsening humanitarian conditions. He emphasized the importance of a resolute global position against such actions.
Ansar Allah (Houthi) leaders in Sanaa have called for blocking "YouTube" and "Facebook" in Yemen as a response to the closures of the accounts of their channels and media centers. "YouTube" recently removed seventy Houthi-linked channels. Countless civilians in Houthi-controlled areas fear that blocking social media platforms will leave them isolated.
Iran announced on Wednesday that it became capable of producing supersonic cruise missiles, a potentially significant military achievement amidst heightened tensions with the United States. Iranian military scientists said they gained the "technical know-how" to manufacture cruise missiles that can travel at supersonic speeds and that the homegrown missile is currently in the testing stage. This cruise missile technology equips Iran with a notably swifter response capacity, effectively denying aggressor forces the chance to reciprocate in the event of any potential conflict.
The Ansar Allah (Houthi) Finance Ministry has issued a decree imposing high customs fees on imports in Al-Hudaydah through land and sea entry crossings. The Finance Ministry ordered the Customs Authority to demand 100% tax and other charges on goods imported through entry crossings such as the port of Al-Hudaydah.
