A Yemeni women's empowerment organization has documented that Houthi militia sniper attacks have resulted in the deaths of 2,730 civilians and injured over 800 others since the conflict began, with women and children disproportionately affected. The Yemeni Women Empowerment Foundation (YWEF) stated that these sniper incidents represent one of the most brutal and persistent patterns of violations in Yemen. According to a report released by the foundation, the Taiz Governorate has the highest number of victims, as residential areas and civilian zones continue to be targeted, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and making daily life perilous for residents. The report, covering the period from 2015 to 2025, highlights that these attacks are not isolated incidents but a recurring strategy of directly targeting civilians across multiple governorates, with Taiz being the most severely impacted. The data was compiled through a documentation project titled "Encyclopedia of 100 Human Stories from Yemen – Part IV (Sniping)," alongside a review of open-source information and specialized human rights reports. The foundation noted that snipers have targeted civilians during ordinary daily activities, including children playing, women commuting or near their homes, and individuals seeking essential services like water. YWEF described these actions as deliberate targeting without any justifiable military grounds. The report asserts that the documented incidents constitute severe violations of international humanitarian law, potentially amounting to war crimes, and calls for independent investigations to ensure accountability. The organization urged the United Nations to intervene to halt these violations, emphasizing that a lack of accountability intensifies the humanitarian crisis and prolongs civilian suffering. |
