ANSAR ALLAH/HOUTHI MOVEMENT

San’a Governorate

On October 25, officers from the Houthi-controlled National Security bureau detained eighteen journalists participating in a civil society event in San’a. Fifteen were released shortly thereafter and three were held for twelve hours. Journalists are granted civilian status in IHL by rule 34, and are offered civilian protections. Their detention is a violation of rule 99, which prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

Pictures posted on October 26 from Sanhan, a suburb of San’a, appear to support claims that the Houthis are using children as human shields. In addition to rules protecting civilians, this is a violation of rule 135, which provides special protections to children affected by armed conflict, and rule 136, which prohibits the recruitment of child soldiers. Human shields are specifically forbidden under rule 97.

Al-Hudaydah Governorate

On October 23, the Houthis detained three journalists and took them to an unknown location. Under rule 34 of IHL, journalists are to be given the same protections as civilians and are therefore entitled to protection from “arbitrary arrest” under rule 99.

SAUDI-LED COALITION

Al-Hudaydah Governorate

On October 8, a coalition airstrike killed four civilians working on a bee farm in al-Hudaydah City. This is a violation of rules 3 and 6, which prohibit harming civilians.

On October 13, a coalition airstrike hit a bus and killed 17 in the Jebel Ras area of al-Hudaydah City. This is a violation of rules 3 and 6, which prohibit harming civilians.

On October 25, a coalition airstrike hit a vegetable packing plant in Bayt al-Faqih District, southeast of al-Hudaydah City. The airstrike killed 21 civilians and injured ten. Additionally, on the same day, three more people were killed and six were injured when strikes hit three vehicles in al-Hali District. These are violations of rules 3 and 6, which prohibit harming civilians.

Aden Governorate

Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and SAM for Rights and Liberties condemned the United Arab Emirates’ use of mercenaries, particularly their “targeted killing” of civilians, a violation of rules 3, 6, and 89, which specifically forbids the murder of civilians.

MULTIPLE PARTIES

Country-wide

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, nearly 1,500 civilian casualties were reported from August to October of 2018. The parties responsible are in violation of rules 3, 6, and 22; rules 3 and 6 prohibit harming civilians and rule 22 requires parties to take precautions against harming civilians.