Yemen: The US-Saudi aggression continued to commit war crimes and acts of genocide on February 19 in the years 2017, 2018, and 2019 through brutal airstrikes and shelling by its mercenaries. Residential areas, neighborhoods, and markets in the governorates of Sana’a, Sa’adah, Ma’rib, and Hodeidah were targeted, resulting in nine injuries, including five children and two women. These attacks also led to the displacement of dozens of families, widespread panic, exacerbation of suffering, destruction of roads, and further deterioration of living conditions.

Key Incidents:

2017: Cluster Bomb Airstrikes Leave Three Injured in Sana’a

On February 19, 2017, the Thursday Market area in Bani Al-Harith district, Sana’a, turned into a scene of terror when US-Saudi warplanes targeted civilian homes with internationally banned cluster bombs. The attack left three people injured, including children and women, transforming ordinary life into an ongoing nightmare and adding another war crime to the long list of atrocities against the Yemeni people.

That night, as families slept peacefully, an elderly man performed his prayers, and a mother stayed up tending to her sick child, the bombs rained down on densely populated mud-brick homes, offering no protection against modern weapons of destruction. The explosion destroyed houses, trapping families under the rubble.

2018: Two Civilians Injured in US-Saudi Airstrike on Sa’adah Highway

On February 19, 2018, the main road in Al-Aqab, near the city of Sa’adah, became the scene of a horrific crime when a US-Saudi airstrike directly targeted the highway. The attack injured two innocent civilians and destroyed a vital infrastructure lifeline for local residents, adding another war crime to the long list of atrocities committed against Yemenis.

The targeting of roads is a full-fledged war crime and a flagrant violation of international law. It restricts civilian movement, obstructs humanitarian aid, and instills terror among the population, compounding the suffering of civilians already enduring dire humanitarian conditions.

2019: Three Children Injured by Mercenary Shelling on Their Home in Taiz

In the village of Al-Nuba, Khadir district, Taiz, on February 19, 2019, US-Saudi mercenaries committed another crime when innocent moments of childhood play turned into a nightmare. Shells fired by invading forces and their ruthless mercenaries struck a modest home, leaving three children injured and families in shock.

The attack shattered the neighborhood’s tranquility, prompting desperate cries from parents who watched their children suffer with nothing but prayers to offer. Nearby homes were damaged, and the children now endure deep psychological trauma, fearing the recurrence of such attacks.

The deliberate targeting of civilians, especially children, is a war crime and a stark violation of international humanitarian laws. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations must take decisive action to stop these crimes and protect Yemen’s children from relentless aggression.

2019: Woman Injured by Mercenary Gunfire in Hodeidah

On the same day in 2019, Saudi-Emirati-American mercenaries committed yet another war crime by violating the ceasefire in Hudaydah. In Al-Jabaliya area of Al-Tuhayta district, indiscriminate gunfire targeted residential neighborhoods, wounding a woman and spreading fear among women and children. The attack forced residents to flee, turning the day into a tragic one.

Hodeidah’s residents called on the international community to enforce the ceasefire, lift the siege, and provide support for the injured and displaced families.