Some people seem to still earnestly believe that Iran fully controls the Houthis and are bewildered why they haven't jumped to action. While there are strategic and pragmatic reasons why, and Houthis may still make a move, I want to reiterate again that Houthis are not merely "a proxy puppeteered by the IRGC." Re-sharing part of longer interview on @CNN explaining this. #Yemen
Environmental peacekeeping opportunities are often underutilised in conflict resolution. This is particularly true in Yemen, argues the Institute's Executive Director Michael Keating in this op-ed for @GeographicalMag:
https://t.co/PyiM6dd6iw
I had the opportuniy of visiting the Middle East Institute and meeting with its President, Stuart E. Jones, as well as VP for Policy Kenneth Pollack and other senior members of the institute where I was provided with an overview of the critical work they do to increase U.S. knowledge of the Middle East and advancing bilateral relations.
حظيت بفرصة زيارة معهد الشرق الأوسط ولقاء رئيسه ستيوارت إي. جونز، ونائب الرئيس للسياسات كينيث بولاك، وعدد من كبار أعضاء المعهد، حيث استمعت إلى عرض حول الجهود المهمة التي يقوم بها المعهد لتعزيز معرفة الولايات المتحدة بمنطقة الشرق الأوسط وتطوير العلاقات الثنائية.
I had the pleasure of meeting Her Royal Highness Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud (@rbalsaud), Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington D.C. and keenly looking forward to working with her on regional issues of interest to both Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
لقد سعدت بلقاء صاحبة السمو الملكي الأميرة ريما بنت بندر آل سعود، سفيرة المملكة العربية السعودية في العاصمة واشنطن وأتطلع إلى العمل معها في القضايا الإقليمية التي تهم كلاً من اليمن والمملكة العربية السعودية.
Her Excellency Ambassador Jamila Ali Rajaa presented a copy of her credentials to U.S. Chief of Protocol @MonicaCrowley. The Ambassador is expected to formally present her credentials to the U.S. President in the coming weeks.
قدمت سعادة السفيرة جميلة علي رجاء نسخة من أوراق اعتمادها إلى رئيسة المراسم الأمريكية، (@MonicaCrowley )، ومن المتوقع أن تقدم السفيرة أوراق اعتمادها رسمياً إلى الرئيس الأمريكي خلال الأسابيع القادمة.
This is a hard one to write … The international development community in Yemen is shaken today by the loss of Wesam Qaid @Wesamqaid.
@almasdaronline and dozens of outlets reports that Wesam was taken near his home by individuals in a blue vehicle, and his body was later found.
This marks the second high-level assassination in Aden, raising concerns about deliberate efforts to undermine the city’s security and stability.
Wesam was the founder of Small Micro Enterprise Promotion Service @SMEPSYEMEN, which grew into a leading organization supporting tens of thousands of small and medium businesses across the country.
In 2019, he became Deputy Managing Director, and soon after Acting Managing Director, of the Yemen Social Fund for Development @SFDYemen. In that role, he helped guide funding and programs in partnership with @WorldBankGroup, @UNDPYemen, @EUinYemen, @USAID, and others with a focus on stronger, community-based development.
Wesam earned a master’s degree in Conflict, Security and Development from the University of Birmingham.
Rest in peace, my friend. You were a good man. You helped so many people and changed many lives. Many will grieve you today. You left a mark that will not fade.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون
🙏
It is with profound sorrow & anguish that I learned of the assassination of my neighbour, Mr. Wissam Qaid — a man I held in the highest esteem, second only to my own father (the finest statesman & father), and a dear friend whose care, counsel, and generosity have shaped me since I was fifteen.
He was a rare and distinguished development leader, whose absence will be felt for a lifetime. Justice, in due course, will prevail; it must, for Wissam and many others.
I condemn in the strongest of terms this act of terrorism and heinous crime, and extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, mine included, wishing them strength and patience in this most difficult time.
I am utterly devastated by this loss, made all the more acute by the privilege of reuniting with him in Riyadh just two months ago, in the presence of senior officials who witnessed firsthand what could be achieved with the support of the @WorldBankGroup and committed donors for a country ravaged by conflict, IRGC -Houthi sabotage, terrorism, and persistent external interference.
Wissam, you will be missed, profoundly and always. Your message of national recovery and development will endure. My generation will carry it forward with resolve and purpose. Yet even so, your absence is deeply felt, and you will be missed terribly.
The Social Fund for Development must free from Houthi control, as Yemen must be free from Iranian control & influence.
It was a pleasure to speak at the #BCSCNewYork spotlight session that brought to life the transformative impact of the Weathering Risk Peace Pillar through fresh evaluation evidence from across five fragile contexts—Nigeria, Somalia, Iraq, the Bay of Bengal, and #Yemen.
I provided a deep dive into the @Eurpeace's Environmental Pathways for Reconciliation in Yemen, where the project operated in one of the most difficult conflict environments in the world but managed to successfully engage across multiple tracks and a highly diverse set of communities and political actors to identify and address the impact of Yemen’s environmental crisis on conflict dynamics.
The multilateral diplomacy at the #BCSC addresses climate, peace, and security by integrating climate risk into conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and humanitarian action, driven by the Security Council and specialized mechanisms. And the Peace Pillar model showcased at the conference is not merely effective—it is essential for navigating today's converging crises and represents a proven investment ready for scaling.
I want to thank the Permanent Mission of Germany, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Permanent Mission of Australia, and a special thank you to Adelphi and the amazing colleagues at the Weathering Risk Consortium.
هشام العميسي:
لطالما اعتمد #الحوثيون على معسكر مناهض لهم يعاني من الانقسامات الدائمة .. ومن المرجح أن يؤثر تدخل #السعودية وتوحيد قيادتها اليمنية، وإعادة بسط نفوذها المركزي في الجنوب، على حسابات الحوثيين وقراراتهم.
.
The Houthis have for long relied on a permanently fractured, cash-strapped, and rival-ridden anti-Houthi camp. The Saudi-UAE feud, Saudi moving in and unifying command, and reasserting central authority in the south will likely have an impact on Houthi calculations and decision-making. I explain what that means in bit here from a longer discussion hosted by the @ACMideast for #Yemen and the region in light of the current conflict with Iran:
I am truly honored to be named a laureate of the Eirene – Power in Peace Award (Hera Legacy – Domina Pacis Medal 2026) by the International Association of Mediators and Poly-Experts (IAMPE).
I accept this recognition with humility, and on behalf of the many courageous women, peacebuilders, and community leaders in Yemen and across the region who continue to work, often quietly and under immense pressure, to advance dialogue, dignity, and justice.
This recognition is not about an individual achievement, but about the collective efforts of those who believe that peace must be inclusive, locally grounded, and shaped by those most affected by conflict.
I remain committed to supporting pathways for meaningful participation, especially for women and youth, and to advancing approaches that center humanity, equity, and sustainable peace.
Grateful for the opportunity to continue this journey alongside so many inspiring voices.
#Peacebuilding #WomenInPeace #Yemen #Dialogue #Mediation #WPS
More about the award: https://t.co/JoinxFA3di
@WoSolidarityYe
Excellent analysis from @omeisy. I would add:
- Houthis control the north and Yemen's capital (and Bab el-Mandab adjacent) & most Yemeni population.
- The rest of Yemen is a political chaos reliant on Saudi funding which could dry up as the kingdom financially struggles.
I will be joining a panel of experts alongside April Alley, @OsamahAlrawhani and @stephenkalin on April 10 at 9.30 a.m. (ET) in an event hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative.
The panel will explore the internal dynamics shaping the Houthis’ decision to enter the Iran war and how these dynamics will influence whether the Red Sea front remains cold or reignites, and prospects of further upending global shipping and Gulf security.
You can register for the event and virtually join the session by signing up on link below:
https://t.co/Yo5iGhcjyb