The Minister of Information stated that the “blockade” claim is a Houthi cover for escalation, as the militia has looted over $103 billion, fueling war in Yemen.

Houthi Claims of “Siege” Debunked by Yemeni Minister

Minister of Information Highlights Economic Mismanagement

Yemeni Minister of Information, Muammar Al-Eryani, has criticized the Houthi militia for perpetuating the false narrative of a “siege” to justify their actions and evade responsibility for the humanitarian crisis they have created. Al-Eryani emphasized that this tactic serves as a smokescreen for their ongoing military escalation.

Economic Exploitation and Misappropriation of Resources

In a recent press statement, Al-Eryani revealed that the Houthis have established one of the largest tax and parallel economic systems to sustain their war efforts and fund the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s agenda. He noted that millions of Yemenis now face poverty, hunger, and unpaid salaries due to this mismanagement.

The minister pointed out that since their takeover, the Houthis have seized all sovereign revenues in their controlled areas. This includes oil and gas revenues, customs duties, taxes, and illegal levies imposed on citizens and businesses. Al-Eryani estimated that the militia has generated over $103 billion from these activities, alongside more than $3 billion looted in just the first four months of this year.

Neglecting Public Salaries Amidst Military Spending

Despite these substantial resources, the Houthis have refused to pay salaries to hundreds of thousands of state employees in their territories. Instead, they have spent billions on weapons, missiles, and drones, while enriching their leaders and establishing closed economic networks that monopolize trade, fuel, and telecommunications. This has turned the wealth of Yemenis into a continuous funding source for their insurgent project.

Commercial Shipping and the Reality of the “Siege”

Al-Eryani highlighted that the ongoing flow of commercial and oil tankers into the ports of Hodeidah, facilitated by a United Nations mechanism, directly contradicts the militia’s claims of a “siege.” He asserted that the real issue lies not in the availability of resources but in who controls them and how they are utilized, often to fuel conflict and extort the international community.

Houthi Narrative as a Political Tool

The minister accused the Houthis of resurrecting the “siege” narrative to justify their military threats against international shipping and global energy security. He stressed that the true blockade on Yemenis comes from the Houthi coup, which has confiscated state resources, cut salaries, imposed taxes, and stifled development, plunging the country into one of the worst humanitarian and economic crises worldwide.

A Call for Accountability

Al-Eryani concluded by asserting that any discussion about Yemen’s humanitarian situation must begin with a critical question: Where have the more than $103 billion in revenues seized by the Houthis gone? He urged that this inquiry could dismantle the “siege” propaganda and reveal that the real crisis stems from a militia that has transformed the state into a war economy, holding Yemenis hostage to an Iranian agenda that disregards their lives and suffering.

This statement underscores the urgent need for accountability and transparency in Yemen’s ongoing conflict, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate under Houthi control.

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