By Faisal Abu Bakr | 2026-08-20

Human rights advocates demand that Houthi leadership faces accountability for planting deadly landmines within civilian areas.

They also insist that Houthis must accept responsibility for the resulting casualties and horrific injuries.

Activists stress an urgent necessity to clear these contaminated zones and provide compensation to suffering families.

They describe these devices as "a silent, ongoing killer" targeting children, farmers and civilians every day.

War remnants function as instruments of death

"Remnants of war, including landmines, have sadly become a delayed instrument of death. These explosives continue to claim civilian lives in areas where fighting has completely ceased years ago," Abdul Rahman Berman, executive director of the American Center for Justice (AFC), told Al-Fassel.

"The danger persists for many years unless accurate locations are mapped and mines are removed entirely," he added.

The greatest risk involves civilians going about their daily lives, including children, farmers or a family searching for water and firewood.

Berman warned that "children might find war remnants and bring them home, leading to fatal explosions."

He cited an incident where a child brought home scrap metal which exploded, killing his parents.

Experts confirm that indiscriminate mine laying constitutes a severe violation of established international humanitarian law daily.

Berman noted that the Houthi group has planted more than two million mines across the country.

"These indiscriminate killers do not distinguish between young or old, nor between innocent children and women," he said.

Mines disguised to look like objects

Yemeni Deputy Minister of Justice Faisal al-Majeedi informed Al-Fassel about these alarming findings and recent reports.

He stated that "international findings indicate the Houthis are the only group currently planting anti-personnel mines."

"The group has manufactured some mines in camouflaged shapes, including children's toys, inflicting massive casualties daily," al-Majeedi said.

On August 10, the Shohood Organization documented the deaths of a father and his teenage son.

They were killed while herding sheep in Harib, Sanaa province, in a truly heartbreaking, avoidable incident.

Human rights activist Riad al-Dabai described this as a harrowing example of risks civilians now face.

"The issue requires accountability for planting mines in civilian areas and failing to protect vulnerable populations," he told Al-Fassel.

Activists urge the international community to hold Houthis accountable for the tragic deaths and permanent injuries of Yemeni children.

They further demand immediate mine clearance in contaminated areas and essential compensation to support the grieving, surviving families.

"Young people deserve a life where they can dedicate themselves to a future free from the violence of the Houthis," al-Dabai said.