ANSAR ALLAH/HOUTHI MOVEMENT
Ta’iz Governorate
On June 2, journalist Anwar Al-Rukn died after being imprisoned at a Houthi-controlled detention facility for ten months. He was released from prison severely dehydrated and weakened, resulting in his death three days after his release. This violates Rule 34 of Customary IHL, which states that journalists that do not take a direct role in the conflict are protected parties. Additionally, torture and cruel or inhuman treatment violates Rule 90 of Customary IHL.
On June 3, SAM documented the killing of 6 civilians, including a four year old child, by the Houthi militia. Indiscriminate attacks and failure to prevent against the effects of attacks are violations of Customary IHL Chapters 3 and 6.
On June 18, a child was killed by a reported Houthi sniper. This violates Customary IHL Chapters 3 and 6, as well as Rule 135, which establishes children as a protected party during conflict.
On June 18, ten civilians, including three children, were injured when their car hit a mine reportedly planted by the Houthis. Indiscriminate attacks and failure to prevent against the effects of attacks are violations of Customary IHL Chapters 3 and 6.
On June 18, 6 civilians, were injured when a bomb reportedly fired by the Houthis hit a family home, injuring the father, his wife, and their three children. An indiscriminate attack on civilians is a violation of Customary IHL Chapter 3.
On June 28, Mohammed Ali Abdo Hakki was killed and his daughter, Zeinab, was injured by a landmine that detonated as they passed by on a motorcycle. Indiscriminate attacks and failure to prevent against the effects of attacks are violations of Customary IHL Chapters 3 and 6. This is also in violation of Customary IHL Rule 81, which describes restrictions for the use of landmines. Houthi militias have reportedly laid thousands of mines in civilian areas.
SAUDI ARABIA- AND UAE-LED COALITION
Hadhramawt Governorate
On June 14, the leaders of Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, Abdulrasheed al-Faqih and Radhya al-Mutawakel, were arrested by coalition officials for a day before they were permitted to continue on their trip abroad.
San’a Governorate
On June 22, a photojournalist from The Intercept chronicled the effect of the Saudi blockade on ordinary Yemenis in San'a.
Amran Governorate
On June 25, a coalition airstrike killed eight civilians in Amran. An additional twenty were injured. This violates Customary IHL Chapters 3 and 6.
Al-Hudaydah Governorate
On June 19, a Saudi-led coalition air raid struck a security checkpoint, killing 9 civilians and injuring 11 others. This violates Customary IHL Chapters 3 and 6.
Southern Yemen
On June 20, witnesses told the Associated Press that they had both seen and experienced sexual abuse at UAE-controlled prisons. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are violations of Rule 93 of Customary IHL.
ALL PARTIES
Nationwide Reports
On June 18, the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project released a six month report on the civilian impact of armed violence in five governorates from December through May 2018. A total of 844 incidents were reported, resulting in 1,828 civilian casualties. Airstrikes were found to be the deadliest type of armed violence, resulting in 80% of the casualties.
On June 23, Amnesty International released a report detailing the continued restriction of the entry of essentials such as food, fuel and medical supplies by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition. Their distribution is then often delayed, the report finds, by the restrictions of Houthi authorities.
On June 27, the UN’s annual Children and Armed Conflict report revealed that there were 842 verified cases of recruitment and use of children in conflict in Yemen in 2017. Of these, 534 were attributed to the Houthis, 142 cases to the Security Belt Forces and 105 to the Yemeni Armed Forces, “marking a substantial increase compared to 2016.” Yemen was also named as among the countries with the highest number of verified child casualties amounting to more than 1,300. Of these, 670 were attributed to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition. The report also cited denial of humanitarian access in Yemen, preventing thousands of children from receiving needed aid. These actions violate Customary IHL Rules 135, 136, and 137, which protect the rights of children during conflict.
Assault on Hudaydah
In May and June, the SAM organization documented the forced displacement of 5,000 households in Hudaydah, due to the fighting between the coalition forces and Houthi militia. Civilians evacuated to Sana’a and Aden suffered deterioratinged humanitarian conditions. This violates Customary IHL Chapter 38.