Activist Alleges Houthi Exploitation of UN Flights for Military Gain

Human rights activist Abdulqader Al-Kharaaz has published documents alleging that the Houthi militia attempted to exploit humanitarian and UN flights to transport foreign communications experts, ostensibly to bolster the group's military and security capabilities.

Al-Kharaaz stated that he monitored air traffic in and out of Sana'a Airport for a year, gathering evidence of foreign experts, military equipment, and communication and espionage technology being transported via humanitarian flights. He contrasted this with the inability of ordinary Yemeni citizens to access or even approach the airport.

Among the documents, Al-Kharaaz presented a memo from "Vega," a company affiliated with businessman Adel Yahya Al-Mu'ayyad, requesting the transport of three Colombian communications specialists on a UN envoy's aircraft. These experts had previously arrived in Sana'a from Jordan via UN flights, which reportedly ceased after US strikes on Sana'a Airport in May 2025.

Al-Kharaaz suggested that the request to move experts via a UN flight underscores the importance of their tasks and raises questions about coordination with humanitarian operations, should the documents prove authentic. He noted that the halt in UN flights from Sana'a prompted the Houthis to seek an alternative route: transporting the experts overland to Aden, with the intention of them departing from Aden Airport using identification belonging to UN staff.

However, Al-Kharaaz confirmed this attempt failed when the Colombian experts were detained at Aden Airport. He indicated that an upcoming report will detail their mission, which allegedly included installing communication systems and training Houthi leaders on their use. Al-Kharaaz questioned the fate of the detained experts and whether any entities facilitating their movements would be held accountable.

He also linked the incident to a "Colombian experience," referencing his earlier reports on visits by individuals from think tanks and organizations working with international bodies to Colombia in 2025, suggesting a potential connection to the group's activities. Al-Kharaaz further accused companies linked to the Al-Mu'ayyad family of using similar names to evade tracking and sanctions, distinguishing Adel Yahya Al-Mu'ayyad, owner of Vega, from Adel Mutahar Al-Mu'ayyad, who is under US sanctions for providing air services to the Houthis. He also mentioned "Genic," another company from the group, which has been implicated in previous reports on smuggling military manufacturing equipment via sea.

These revelations emerge amidst recurring accusations that the Houthi militia exploits humanitarian channels for non-relief purposes. If substantiated, such claims would necessitate an independent investigation to ensure international aid and humanitarian missions are not diverted to support military or intelligence activities.