7 Years of Houthi War Crimes

Asharq Al-Awsat, London, January 28

What the Houthi militias want is to ignite the region with war, destruction, and death, following seven years of war in Yemen that didn’t achieve any of their goals or any real victory. Most recently, they have intensified their indiscriminate attacks on Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles and drones. With the beginning of the new year, their attacks have become focused on the UAE and the capital, Abu Dhabi. Undoubtedly, those who follow the field events in Yemen, the recent developments on the ground, and the victories achieved by the Arab coalition forces, will immediately notice the enormous losses incurred by the Houthi militias compared to the victories achieved by the Arab coalition forces. The feeling of defeat and the sense of despair and frustration experienced by the Houthi militias in recent months has prompted the Houthi leadership to go out and direct its weapons – which were manufactured and provided by the Iranian regime – against cities and vital industrial and commercial areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. What the Houthi militias are doing constitutes war crimes if not crimes against humanity. Other than attacks against neighboring countries, the Houthis have been killing Yemeni civilians, using children in war, raping women, and humiliating the elderly throughout Yemen. These actions left hundreds of thousands of Yemeni people dead, wounded, and displaced. Today, the international community must take bolder and more comprehensive steps and decisions towards the Houthis. That the Houthis’ response to its recent condemnation is more missile attacks on Jizan and Abu Dhabi is a testament to the inexistent deterrence that exists today. The crimes of the Houthis in the past seven years necessitate that the UN Security Council issue binding resolutions that hold this group accountable. Condemnation statements are simply not enough. The time has come for the UN to monitor crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the Houthis and prosecute them at the International Criminal Court. –Mohammed Al-Hamadi (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)