The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen are insisting on imposing more restrictions on relief organizations in the war-torn country, despite international warnings that these agencies may lower their aid in areas controlled by the militias. The militias have abused the funds of their own government institutions for the war effort and their personal enrichment. Ignoring international warnings, the Houthis also seized more than 300 billion rials (a dollar amounts to some 600 rials) in zakat funds during the past year and have used them for their war effort. The Houthis have claimed to have distributed the zakat funds to the poor, but residents in Sanaa and other regions refuted the allegations, saying the money was actually hoarded by the militias. Meanwhile, the United States warned on Thursday that it would cease aid to Houthi-held regions starting late March. Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, US permanent representative Kelly Craft accused the Houthis of obstructing humanitarian operations in Yemen. “Aid obstructions are unacceptable and have already caused many aid programs to shut down.” “We therefore urge the Houthis to take immediate steps to meet all the minimum conditions for principled humanitarian operations before the end of this month …. In the absence of credible Houthi actions to address our concerns, the United States will suspend US assistance to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen at the end of March, except for certain critical lifesaving programs,” she announced. Informed sources in Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat that de facto ruler of the Houthi coup council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, had recently met with several UN officials to list new militia dictates on their operations. Official Houthi sources acknowledged that the meeting was held. It was attended by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Lise Grande, Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen (OCHA), Aiden OLeary, and other relief group officials. The Houthis claimed that the meeting was aimed at developing their partnership with these organizations to confront mounting humanitarian challenges in Yemen. The sources, however, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthi officials sought to impose new mechanisms for the operation of the relief agencies that would allow the militias to impose complete control over their work. The Houthis are seeking to force the agencies to obtain permits in advance to carry out relief projects in areas under their control. The Houthis would also oversee the implementation of the projects, revealed humanitarian workers to Asharq Al-Awsat. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi threatened during his meeting with the relief officials to force them to halt their work should they refuse to comply with these conditions.