World · World News Bureau
US denies Houthi blockade claims amid Yemen humanitarian crisis
The United States embassy has rejected assertions by Yemen's Houthi rebels that they are facing an economic blockade, stating that commercial goods continue to flow into rebel-controlled territory. The statement comes as the US accuses the Iran-backed group of imposing a siege on the southwestern city of Taiz.
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A spokesperson for the US embassy said that merchandise and supplies are still reaching areas under Houthi control despite claims from the rebel movement that external restrictions are strangling their economy. The embassy's statement directly contradicts Houthi allegations of a coordinated blockade aimed at destabilizing their governance.
The embassy simultaneously leveled accusations that the Houthis themselves are perpetuating a siege on Taiz, a major city in Yemen's southwestern region. The blockade of Taiz has been linked to severe shortages of fuel, food, and medical supplies, contributing to deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the population center.
Yemen has been ravaged by civil conflict since 2014, when Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa and much of the country's north. The conflict has created what the United Nations has described as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing food insecurity and limited access to basic services.
The US statement reflects broader tensions over responsibility for Yemen's economic collapse and humanitarian emergency. International observers have documented that multiple parties to the conflict, including Saudi-led coalition forces and the Houthis, have implemented measures restricting the flow of goods and revenues to civilian populations.