Mine event in Yemen on Wed 7th August 2024

Two brothers were killed on Wednesday, August 7th, when they triggered a landmine planted by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the western Yemeni governorate of Hodeidah.

The Yemeni Mine Observatory reported that Mohammed Ayash Qubaishi (26) and Abdullah Ayash Qubaishi (28) were riding a motorcycle on a side road in the Rihan area of the Durayhimi district, south of Hodeidah city, when the explosion occurred.

The incident is the latest in a long string of casualties caused by landmines planted by the Houthis, who have been accused of transforming Yemen into one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. According to UN reports, the Houthis have planted over two million landmines in areas under their control, resulting in the deaths and injuries of more than 20,000 civilians, the majority of whom are women and children. rights groups have repeatedly called on the Houthis to provide maps of the landmines they have planted to organizations working in demining efforts. The Houthis have been accused of deliberately using landmines as a weapon of war, targeting civilians and hindering humanitarian aid efforts.

The deaths of the two brothers highlight the ongoing threat posed by landmines in Yemen, even after the end of active fighting. The legacy of the conflict continues to claim lives, underscoring the urgent need for demining efforts and accountability for those responsible for the widespread use of these deadly weapons.