Two civilians, including one Somali national, were injured on Sunday when Houthi militias targeted a civilian vehicle with a drone projectile in the northern Mreiss district of Dhale Governorate. The incident marks a new escalation in attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region. Local sources reported that the injured individuals were traveling in the targeted vehicle from Sana'a to Aden on the main asphalt road. Separately, another person of Somali nationality sustained injuries under similar circumstances on the same main road. Concurrently, Houthi militias intensified their indiscriminate shelling of areas north of Mreiss since Sunday morning, deploying mortar shells and drone projectiles. Approximately 86 projectiles were reportedly fired, accompanied by drone activity throughout the morning hours. The majority of the attacks impacted farmlands, residential areas, and surrounding villages. The road connecting Mreiss and the city of Damt, a route with significant civilian and vehicular traffic, was also affected, heightening the risks for civilians and travelers. This Houthi escalation occurs amidst the militia's continued use of indiscriminate shelling and drones to target civilian areas, agricultural lands, and facilities in northern Dhale. These actions represent a recurring violation of resident safety and a direct threat to civilian movement on public roads. These attacks underscore the Houthi militia's persistent strategy of endangering civilians by targeting populated areas and vital routes with projectiles and drones, aiming to instill fear and disrupt public life and movement in areas near conflict lines. Local and human rights organizations are calling for the documentation of these violations, accountability for those responsible, and a deterrent international stance against targeting civilians and civilian objects to ensure resident protection and prevent further military escalation. |
