Human rights organizations: Houthis committing new war crimes, by bombing civilians’ homes in the middle of Yemen
Yemen Monitor/News Room
Human rights organizations held the Houthi group responsible for the serious crime that occurred this morning, calling for an urgent investigation and for all individuals involved in this serious violation of criminal justice to be held accountable.
A statement issued by the Sam Organization for Rights and Freedoms and the American Center for Justice stated that the Houthi group bombed two houses in the center of Rada’a this morning, Tuesday, March 19, 2024, causing the collapse of neighboring popular houses on top of their inhabitants, with 18 people, most of them are women and children, still under the rubble, emphasizing that the group is condemned for committing a heinous crime that requires a deterrent response.
Tawfiq Al-Humaidi said, “The absence of criminal accountability has allowed the Houthi group to continue its policy of house demolition, as a collective punishment for residents, which constitutes a blatant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
He stressed that this act constitutes a war crime under international law and violates individuals’ rights to safety, shelter, and housing.”
Preliminary information showed that the Houthi group called in special forces from the capital Sana’a this morning after the brother of a Houthi supervisor was killed in the region yesterday evening. These forces then surrounded the homes of “Aal-Naqous and Al-Zeilai” families in Al-Hafra neighborhood in the center of Rada’a.
According to eyewitnesses, Houthi special forces deployed snipers in Radaa’s historical castle, prompting the residents of Aal- Naqous house to flee before the Houthis deliberately booby-trapped and detonated their house and an outer room, causing several adjacent houses to collapse. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the house of the “Al-Yaremi” family collapsed on top of its safe inhabitants, and approximately 18 people, including women, children, and men, are still under the rubble at the time of the organization receiving the information.
In a report released on December 7, 2023, the American Center for Justice documented the Houthis blowing up 713 houses in all Yemeni governorate, with Al-Bayda province leading with 118 houses, followed by Taiz 110 houses, then Al-Jawf 76 houses, Saada 73 houses, Ibb 62 houses, Sana’a 57 houses, Marib 53 houses, Dhamar 37 houses, Hajjah 31 houses, Al-Dhale 23 houses, Lahj 22 houses, Amran 21 houses, Al-Hodeidah 14 houses, Shabwa 10 houses, Abyan 5 houses, and Aden with one house.
By international law, demolishing houses on its inhabitants inside is a serious war crime that violates international humanitarian law. Deliberately destroying homes to damage property is a war crime according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. It is also considered a crime against humanity if carried out on a wide scale or as part of a deliberate attack on civilians, making the leaders of this group liable for criminal prosecution.
The two organizations stressed that individuals belonging to the Houthi group follow a systematic approach to bombing homes, such as the “Aal-Naqous” house, aiming for collective punishment and terrorizing their opponents, without regard for any Yemeni legal texts. The group deliberately carries out the policy of bombing without considering any side effects, often resulting in serious damage to neighboring houses, especially close-knit popular homes, as was the case with the “Aal-Naqous” house, resulting in the collapse of neighboring houses on top of their inhabitants. This clearly indicates the deliberate involvement of the group in this crime.
The organizations called for the rapid response of rescue teams to rescue the children and women trapped under the rubble of the demolished houses due to the bombings, holding the Houthi group fully responsible for the serious crime that occurred this morning and calling for an urgent investigation and the prosecution of all individuals involved in this serious violation of criminal justice.
