12/18
In another sign of the collapse of the Houthi-Saleh Alliance, Critical Threats reported that forces loyal to deceased President Saleh have stopped supporting the Houthis and have begun supporting the Emirati-led offensive to retake the Red Sea coast.
12/19
The Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rupert Colville, released a statement claiming there were 136 verified civilian deaths caused by Saudi-led coalition airstrikes from December 6th to December 16th. These deaths took place in San’a, Sa’dah, al-Hudaydah, and Ta’iz governorates.
The Hill reported that a letter had been released by 350 international activists demanding that the United States, the United Kingdom, and France start taking stronger action to end the civil war in Yemen. The letter was endorsed by the YPP.
12/20
Chatham House released a report entitled “Yemen: National Chaos, Local Order” that outlined potential revisions to the United Nations-led mediation process in Yemen.
The Iranian Government continued to deny sending military support to the Houthis, citing that this would have been impossible given the recent Saudi blockade of Hudaydah, BBC reported.
12/21
The Pentagon for the first time confirmed multiple ground operations in Yemen. These operations have targeted AQAP and Islamic State in Yemen, and have resulted in at least 30 civilian deaths. The statement issued by CENTCOM noted that the presence of Islamic State has doubled as the organization has capitalized on the instability caused by Yemen’s civil war.
Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) sent a letter to Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to the United States demanding a total end to the blockade.
The Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient released a report outlining potential security sector reforms in Yemen.
The White House released a statement by the Press Secretary applauding Saudi Arabia’s announcement to re-open Hudaydah and urged the United Nations Security Council to hold Iran responsible for alleged violations of Security Council Resolutions.
12/22
The Houthis have shelled villages in the al-Hayma district of Ta’iz, where local resistance forces are challenging their control. Coalition airstrikes in support of the resistance have killed civilians in the area.
12/23
NBC reported that the US is defending their role in the bombings conducted by the Saudi-led coalition, while activists in the US and UK, including the YPP, are researching ways to hold government officials legally responsible for abetting war crimes committed by the coalition.
12/24
Al Jazeera reported that the Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes in Hudaydah on Saturday and airstrikes in San’a on Saturday. The airstrike in Hudaydah on Saturday reportedly killed at least thirty five people.
12/25
Saudi-led Coalition airstrikes continued throughout the weekend, killing over seventy people in the forty-eight hour period.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Yemeni journalists and other media outlets, making it increasingly more difficult to journalists to operate in Houthi-controlled areas.
12/26
The Atlantic released a compilation of photographs outlining the 1,000 days of war in Yemen.
12/28
Houthis seized the bank accounts of more than 1,000 Yemeni officials through an order directed at the San’a branch of the Central Bank of Yemen. Houthis have demanded that this order be circulated to all official and private banks.
WNYC interviewed several individuals at the rally in New York protesting Trump’s most recent travel ban. The ban, and other policies enacted by the US government, have increased restrictions on individuals travelling to the United States from eight countries, including Yemen.
12/29
The Guardian reported that sixty-eight civilians were killed in Yemen in just one day by Saudi Coalition airstrikes in Ta’iz and Hudaydah. These airstrikes come just over a week after Saudi Arabia claimed it had re-opened the Hudaydah port to allow ships to pass through.
12/30
The United States tripled the number of airstrikes they conducted in Yemen against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Yemen in 2017, with little impact on the groups’ capacities.
Houthi militias attacked civilian houses in contested areas of al-Baydha.
12/31
Defense Secretary Mattis defended US effort in Yemen, claiming that there would be far more civilian casualties without US efforts. The US has promised to provide training to coalition targeters and pilots, but the administration has given conflicting information to the press and Congress about the exact role of US personnel in the coalition’s air campaign.