Landmine Explosion in Hodeidah Home Kills Two Children, Injures Four Family Members

Two children were killed and four other individuals, including their mother, sustained injuries following the detonation of a landmine inside a residential house in the Bayt al-Faqih district, located in Yemen's western Hodeidah governorate, local sources reported on Tuesday.

The sources indicated that the mine exploded within the home of citizen Abdo Ahmed Mashra'i in the Al-Jah area. The blast resulted in the deaths of a boy aged 7 and a girl aged 11, while their mother, the brother's wife, and two other children suffered injuries described as serious.

According to the reports, the explosion occurred shortly after the family returned to their residence, having briefly left to purchase Eid clothing for the children. The mine reportedly detonated immediately upon the family members entering the house.

The sources further attributed the incident to mines previously planted by Houthi militias around residential areas during periods of civilian displacement from the region, noting that such deployments have led to recurring fatal incidents targeting non-combatants.

Several areas within Hodeidah governorate routinely experience recurrent accidents due to mines planted years ago, posing a persistent threat to residents, particularly in villages and agricultural zones.

This incident follows a similar tragedy last Thursday, where three children were killed and another injured by a separate Houthi landmine explosion in the village of Makhshoush, Abs district, Hajjah governorate, to the north of the country, where the children were reportedly herding sheep when the device detonated.

Government and international reports consistently indicate that the conflict in Yemen, ongoing since 2014, has resulted in the widespread proliferation of landmines, heavily attributed to the Houthi militia. This contamination has led to the death and injury of thousands of civilians, many of whom are women and children, with a significant number of survivors suffering permanent disabilities.