by Al-Fassel | 2026-03-03

In the war-torn landscape of Yemen, a hidden and indiscriminate enemy lurks beneath the soil.

Houthis have turned vast swathes of the country into deadly minefields, planting landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with a reckless disregard for human life.

Homes, farms and roads have become death traps, devastating communities and obstructing any hope of recovery.

This indiscriminate use of explosives has resulted in the killing and maiming of thousands of civilians and will continue to haunt Yemen for decades.

Devastating civilian impact

The human cost of the Houthis' landmine campaign is staggering, with Yemen ranking as one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world.

Civilian casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war have reached alarming numbers, according to reports from the United Nations and other international observers.

Thousands of innocent people, including a significant number of children, have been killed or injured by these hidden explosives.

Children are particularly vulnerable, as their curiosity often leads them to unknowingly turn dangerous land into fatal playgrounds.

These explosives cause more than just injuries and deaths; they disrupt the fabric of society by displacing families and shattering communities.

Families displaced by conflict are unable to return home, while farmers lose their ability to safely cultivate land, devastating livelihoods in the affected regions.

Landmines have been identified across 14 Yemeni governorates, with their densest presence in regions formerly controlled by the Houthis, per Mwatana for Human Rights.

The persistent threat of detonation fosters widespread fear, creating ongoing trauma and displacement that severely impacts societal stability.

Houthis have employed particularly cynical tactics, such as modifying anti-tank mines to detonate with the weight of a child.

They have also disguised explosives as ordinary objects, like rocks, further increasing the risks to civilians living in contaminated areas.

Obstructing a nation's recovery

The widespread contamination of landmines is a primary obstacle to Yemen's recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Agricultural activity, the backbone of many local economies, has been severely curtailed as farmers are too scared to work their fields.

This not only leads to loss of income but also exacerbates the already dire Yemen humanitarian crisis by reducing food production.

According to a Human Rights Watch report, Houthi landmines have been a "major cause of civilian casualties", while deliberately blocking aid routes.

Project Masam, a humanitarian demining initiative, has cleared hundreds of thousands of explosive devices, with over a million mines reportedly planted by the Houthis.

However, experts caution that clearing all the explosive threats could take decades, which is further complicated by the ongoing placement of new mines.

Yemen's progress toward peace and stability will remain obstructed until the Houthis cease their actions.