Amid growing concerns about the ongoing violence in Yemen, the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) released a report on the U.N.-imposed sanctions on Yemen, including Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's frozen assets estimated at $32 billion to $60 billion amassed during his 33 years in power."The origin of the funds used to generate Ali Abdullah Saleh's wealth is believed to be partly from his corrupt practices as president of Yemen, particularly relating to gas and oil contracts where he reportedly asked for money in exchange for granting companies exclusive rights to prospect for gas and oil in Yemen," the U.N. report said.Saleh is widely accused of playing a role in the current unrest in Yemen where Houthi Shiite rebels have captured the capital Sanaa and forced Saleh's successor, President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, to resign from the presidency.As part of U.N. sanctions, the 15-member U.N. Security Council has imposed an assets freeze on Saleh since November 2014 with the aim of ending the political instability and violence. Yemen has plunged deeper into a crisis that threatens to split the nation. Along with violence and mass political demonstrations, the advance of the Iran-allied Shiite Houthi group raises fears of the possible disintegration of the country. Sanaa has been under Houthi rebel control since September 2014.The UNSC has also given unanimous backing to Hadi as "the legitimate president of Yemen" and reaffirmed its strong commitment to the country's unity. Adopting a new resolution, the UNSC urged all "parties to cease all armed hostilities against the people and the legitimate authorities of Yemen."The UNSC also warned the international community about the continuing violence in Yemen. The country is of strategic importance as it is located next to oil-rich Saudi Arabia and on a key shipping route from the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf. Yemen has played a significant role for Saudi Arabia against Iran's influence over the violence-hit Middle East, and the country is a U.S. ally in Washington's fight against the radical militant group al-Qaida, which poses a significant threat to Western countries. Therefore, a Western-backed centralized and powerful government is crucial for the U.S. to conduct counter-terrorism strikes and operations against radical militants.The country has long suffered from political instability and insecurity due to threats posed by various militant groups. Since Saleh stepped down in 2012 ending his 33-year rule, the country has been in a state of constant conflict. In addition to the Houthi rebels, al-Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) also poses a significant security threat to the Yemeni government as militants have tried to impose control on many cities. In addition to clashes between government forces and Houthi militants, rival militant groups have fought bloody battles to gain control over several other locations.