Hairan Massacre During Iftar: New Witness to Houthi Crimes Against Civilians

Yemen Monitor / Special Monitoring:

A bloody massacre in the Hairan District of Hajjah Governorate, northwestern Yemen, has sparked a wave of widespread local and international condemnation. According to local sources, artillery shelling launched by the Houthi group targeted a civilian gathering during the Ramadan Iftar meal, resulting in the death of at least 15 civilians, including children, and injuring more than thirty others with varying degrees of severity.

Sources reported that the shelling targeted the courtyard of a house in the village of Al-Mash on Sunday evening, where residents had gathered for Iftar during the last ten nights of Ramadan. This caused serious injuries, and critical cases were transferred to nearby hospitals and medical centers.

The sources confirmed that the attack occurred after an aerial surveillance operation using a drone to pinpoint the civilian gathering before the shelling, indicating a deliberate targeting of civilians that has left a shocking impact among the civilian population.

United Nations Condemnation

The United Nations condemned the attack that took place on March 15 in Hairan District, expressing deep concern over the civilian deaths and injuries.

Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen, stated via his account on “X” that the protection of civilians is a constant duty under international humanitarian law, calling for those responsible for the attack to be held accountable.

The UN Envoy confirmed that preliminary information indicates at least 15 civilians were killed and dozens injured, including children, without explicitly naming the Houthis, limiting his statement to condemning the crime and the necessity of achieving justice.

Yemeni Government Condemnation

For its part, the Yemeni government strongly condemned the attack, considering it a war crime and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The Ministry of Human Rights stated in an official release that the attack was not random but was executed after precise aerial surveillance, demonstrating a premeditated intent to target civilians.

The Ministry added that the victims were gathered for Iftar, making the attack a direct targeting of a civilian assembly. It emphasized that these actions fall within crimes that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, stressing the need to hold those responsible accountable under international laws.

Directives for Urgent Aid

In turn, the Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, directed that urgent medical care be provided to the wounded and urgent aid be disbursed to the families of the martyrs.

He held a telephone call with the Governor of Hajjah, Abdul Karim Al-Sinnini, to review the details of the attack and listen to a preliminary report stating the martyrdom of 8 civilians and the injury of dozens with varying wounds, including critical cases transferred to hospitals for treatment.

Al-Alimi stressed the importance of documenting and following up on the crime according to legal procedures, affirming the state’s commitment to protecting civilians and pursuing those responsible for the attack to ensure they do not escape punishment.

Warnings from Human Rights Organizations

Yemeni human rights organizations confirmed that the shelling followed the use of a drone to determine the location of the civilian gathering, reflecting a deliberate attack against civilians and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms stated that the shelling targeted the courtyard of citizen Adel Junaid’s assembly, explaining that such attacks represent a continuous threat to civilians in conflict zones.

Organizations such as “Taqasi for Development and Human Rights” called for an independent investigation, the provision of urgent aid to the wounded, and support for the victims’ families, emphasizing that targeting civilian gatherings during the month of Ramadan reflects the danger of the ongoing targeting of civilians in Yemen.

Calls for International Accountability

Government officials, including Minister of Information Muammar Al-Eryani, called on the international community to condemn the crime and hold those responsible accountable, warning that impunity encourages continued violations against civilians.

Local authorities in Hajjah Governorate also held the Houthi group fully responsible for the attack, calling on humanitarian organizations to provide medical support to the wounded and assist the victims’ families in light of the difficult humanitarian conditions.