Al -Jazeera Net Correspondents
Sanaa – The areas controlled by the Houthi group in northern Yemen are witnessing a state of popular discontent, after the spread of large quantities of adulterated gasoline in the market, which caused severe damage to vehicles and generators, in light of the accusations circulating of the existence of a supervisory default, and charges by the group to Israel to stand behind this crisis.
Complaints of citizens and damage to millions of riyals
The citizen Ahmed Al -Tayyari (43 years) said that he died his car with gasoline from one of the stations of the capital, Sana’a, but it started making unusual voices before it stopped working completely on Al -Khamseen Street.
He explained in his speech to “Al -Jazeera Net” that he moved his car to one of the workshops of Khulan Street, and there he was forced to change the main parts of the engine, at a cost of about 550 thousand Yemeni riyals (more than a thousand dollars). He added that he had submitted a complaint to the oil company through the “WhatsApp” application, and it was registered without receiving any response later.
For his part, Abdullah Al Qasimi, a taxi driver in Sanaa, said that he had faced similar problems a few days ago, when his car started to lose determination gradually. He added that his car maintenance experience enabled him to discover the reason, to find that “Al -Bouji” is covered with a layer similar to oxide.
Al -Qasimi explained that he had to replace spare parts, including “Coilat”, expressing his concern that the damage would be repeated and eventually led to the loss of his only source of income that his family can support.
A huge charge entered from the Red Sea
Informed Yemeni sources confirmed to “Al -Jazeera Net” that about 60,000 tons of adulterated gasoline entered the market during the past weeks through the port of Ras Issa, overlooking the Red Sea, which is under the control of the Houthis.
The sources – who preferred not to be identified – added that the shipment was passed without an accurate examination in the absence of independent control and the approved technical examination mechanisms.
Economic researcher Waheed Al -Foudi pointed out that adulterated gasoline has become widely spread due to dependence on the black market and shipments that do not conform to the specifications, sometimes come through non -transparent commercial and political alliances.
Al -Foudi explained that it was the carrier “Loove” that carried the shipment, and entered the port of Ras Issa on December 26, 2024 with 60 thousand and 639 tons on board. On February 20, 2025, the quantity was pumped directly to the market due to the lack of sufficient storage capacity.
Wide economic and health repercussions
Al -Foudi warned that the effects of this crisis exceed the affected vehicles, as adulterated gasoline may also cause generators and raising the costs of transportation and production, as well as depleting the income of citizens due to repeated maintenance costs.
He pointed out that this will lead to the disturbance of basic services, such as water, electricity and transportation, as well as the exacerbation of the health situation as a result of harmful emissions and the spread of mental illnesses related to economic burdens, as well as weak confidence in local markets and suppliers.
Al -Foudi called for the formation of an independent supervision committee to oversee and examine the import of fuel, while involving international organizations to ensure transparency, support the honest private sector and enhance societal awareness of the risks of adulterated fuel.
Houthi movements … and the continuation of ambiguity
The “Joint Coordination Unit of Supervision and the Public Prosecution” affiliated with the Houthis held a meeting in Sana’a on April 15, during which it discussed the report of the Higher Anti -Corruption Commission and the Security and Intelligence Service on the adulterated shipment.
According to the “Saba” agency in its Houthi version, the meeting stressed “the importance of coordinating roles to complete the investigation procedures,” and the authorities concerned with following up the case until the detection of the circumstances and identifying the two causes.
The Yemeni Oil Company, which is subject to the Houthi administration, announced last March the formation of a field committee to examine some stations and study the faults that were inflicted on vehicles, and confirmed that it had taken “precautionary measures” until the completion of the work of the technical committees.
Accusations
In a remarkable development, Sultan Al -Sama’i, a member of the Supreme Political Council of the Houthi group, accused Israel of being behind the adulterated gasoline deal, claiming that “the Zionist entity paid large sums to deliver this shipment with the aim of disrupting army and agriculture equipment in the event of a confrontation.”
Al -Sami added on the “X” platform that what happened is similar to what he described as “bullies in Lebanon”, referring to allegations of previous Israeli sabotage.
The Houthi official has not provided details about the source of the shipment or the involved bodies, and no official response from Israel has yet been issued.
