Dr. Abdulqader Al-Kharraz has revealed evidence suggesting the Houthi militia procured two aircraft, registering them under international organizations and utilizing them for military purposes under the guise of humanitarian aid. This operation allegedly involved transporting sensitive equipment and experts to support the group's security and military activities. Al-Kharraz stated that his team spent a full year monitoring air traffic in and out of Sana'a International Airport, gathering documentation on the movement of experts, military equipment, and communication and espionage technologies. He indicated that certain flights, ostensibly for humanitarian and UN purposes, were exploited to benefit the Houthi militia, according to their monitoring findings. He further referenced US sanctions imposed in January 2026 on Adel Mutahar Abdullah Al-Muayyad, which included accusations of involvement in efforts to supply aircraft to the Houthi militia through aviation companies "Brash Aviation" and "Samaa Aviation." Al-Kharraz emphasized the importance of distinguishing between two individuals named Adel Al-Muayyad, noting that name similarities can complicate tracking efforts. Al-Kharraz detailed the case of three Colombian experts specializing in communications, whose transfer to Sana'a was requested by the company "Vega Soft," reportedly owned by Adel Yahya Yahya Al-Muayyad. These experts were allegedly transported to Sana'a on UN flights prior to US strikes on Sana'a airport in May 2025. The documents indicated a request for their transport on a UN envoy's aircraft, suggesting their significance to the Houthis and the coordination involved with UN flights. Following the suspension of UN flights to Sana'a after the US strikes, the team's information suggests an alternative route was sought for transporting the experts overland to Aden, with the intention of them traveling from Aden Airport using identification cards belonging to UN personnel. This operation reportedly ended with the apprehension of the three experts at Aden Airport. Al-Kharraz questioned the current detention status of the Colombian experts and called for investigations into any exploitation of humanitarian organizations and flights for military or security purposes benefiting the Houthi militia. Connecting this incident to what he described as a "Colombian experience," Al-Kharraz noted the emergence of individuals linked to research centers and organizations visiting Colombia in mid-2025. He raised questions about potential links between these movements and the network of experts his team claims to have identified, stating this aspect will be part of an upcoming detailed report on the Houthi security and intelligence apparatus. The report is expected to cover information on the installation of communication systems, training of Houthi leaders, and the participation of experts in training operations. Al-Kharraz also indicated that evasion tactics extend beyond name similarities, involving the use of companies and owner names to complicate network tracking. He pointed to other companies linked to the Al-Muayyad family involved in transporting military manufacturing-related equipment via sea, including "Jainik," allegedly owned by Fares Al-Muayyad and Ghassan Al-Hadi, in connection with previously reported seizures of containers at the port of Aden. In a related development, Al-Kharraz reported that five cargo planes arrived at Sana'a International Airport on Wednesday, with his team's information suggesting one aircraft carried an Omani and an Iranian official. This aircraft reportedly departed later carrying the remains of Iranian fatalities and injured individuals, along with several injured Houthi fighters. Al-Kharraz affirmed his team's continued monitoring of air traffic at Sana'a airport, emphasizing the necessity of investigating and holding accountable any misuse of humanitarian or UN flights for military or security purposes, and preventing the exploitation of humanitarian cover to support Houthi activities. |
