Yemen’s Houthi war threatens ancient heritage and fuels fears of antiquities trafficking

Arab News · 16‏/10‏/2026، 7:52:08 م

LONDON: The renewed offensive by the Houthi militia in Yemen has raised fresh concerns about the fate of a cultural heritage already battered by more than a decade of war, destruction and looting. The impact of the latest fighting on archaeological sites and museum collections remains to be established. But years of conflict, weakened institutions and fragmented authority have created conditions in which antiquities can be stolen, smuggled and sold to international buyers. Mohammed Ali Thamer, d