Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Al-Mukha Center for Studies (a Yemeni research institution) has called for urgent action to pressure Israel to halt its deliberate targeting of Yemen’s infrastructure, warning that international silence could lead to widespread destruction and the collapse of what remains of Yemen’s capabilities, turning the lives of millions into endless suffering.
In a policy brief, the center stated that the US bears the greatest responsibility as the leader of the international system and due to its special relationship with Israel. It has the ability to influence Israeli decision-makers and is therefore obligated to exert maximum pressure on Israel to prevent the deliberate and widespread destruction of what remains of Yemen’s infrastructure. The center argued that the US position should go beyond the statement by White House National Security Communications Coordinator John Kirby, who called on Israelis to conduct their operations in Yemen in a manner that limits damage to civilian infrastructure. Instead, the US should exert real and effective pressure.
The same responsibility also lies with international organizations, humanitarian groups, and international media. They are obligated to escalate political, media, and human rights efforts to prevent the limited resources of the Yemeni people from becoming easy targets for Israeli airstrikes, and to direct their pressure towards neutralizing and protecting these resources.
The center warned of the dire consequences of continued Israeli attacks on Yemen’s infrastructure, noting that these strikes threaten what remains of the Yemeni people’s capabilities and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the country.
The center affirmed that the attacks launched by Israel on vital sites in Sana’a, Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Isa target not only military objectives but also civilian facilities, causing severe damage that deepens the suffering of Yemenis in an unprecedented manner.
The story began on November 15, 2024, when the leader of the Houthi group, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced targeting ships heading towards Israel in response to the war in Gaza, leading to increased tension in the region. The Houthi group expanded its operations to include all ships, prompting the US to form an international coalition to protect trade in the Red Sea.
While the Israeli military justifies the recent strikes as targeting the Houthi group, Al-Mukha Center asserted that reality paints a different picture, as airports, ports, and power plants have suffered direct damage, causing widespread destruction to Yemen’s infrastructure, which is already suffering from years of prolonged war.
The policy brief indicated that Yemen has been suffering from a gradual erosion of its national capabilities since 2014, as the war has destroyed hospitals, ports, and airports, while power plants face continuous destruction, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and worsening the economic situation.
International reports have estimated Yemen’s economic losses at over $200 billion since the beginning of the war. The center warned that continued Israeli strikes will increase these losses and threaten to wipe out what remains of the infrastructure.
The center also explained that the recent attacks, including the targeting of Ras Isa power station and fuel tanks in Hodeidah port in July 2024, caused losses exceeding $20 million, while attacks in December resulted in the destruction of Sana’a airport, power stations, and civilian casualties.
Al-Mukha Center affirmed that Israel’s targeting of vital facilities in Yemen appears to be deliberate, as the attacks include basic infrastructure that millions of Yemenis rely on for survival.
The center concluded its statement by saying that Yemen needs urgent international intervention to ensure the protection of its vital facilities and prevent the humanitarian catastrophe from worsening, warning that any delay may plunge the country into an irreversible disaster.
