Sana'a Executive Summary:
On 21 September 2014, the Ansar Allah armed group (Houthis) seized control over the Yemeni capital Sana’a by armed force. Afterwards, the Peace and National Partnership Agreement was signed between the group and other political factions under the United Nations’ sponsorship. This was followed by tension that lasted for weeks, and eventually, on 20 January 2015, Ansar Allah forced house arrest on both President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister, at the time, Khaled Mahfouz Bahah, as well as members of the cabinet. On 21 February 2015, President Hadi fled to Aden. A month later, on 21 March 2015, Ansar Allah militants and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Ansar Allah’s ally, advanced towards Taiz all the way to Aden in the south, in addition to other Yemeni governorates and regions.
The advancement of Ansar Allah and Saleh’s forces marked the beginning of a new level of violent conflict. As Ansar Allah launched airstrikes on the presidential palace, President Hadi’s residence in Aden, after gaining full control of the air force, the president fled to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on 25 March 2015. Following this, governmental forces loyal to President Hadi were formed, as well as local armed “resistance” groups, which mainly consisted of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah), Salafi groups, Southern Movement, Jihadi groups, and other groups and parties loyal to President Hadi.
As a result of President Hadi’s escape to Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched a military campaign involving a coalition of nine Arab states at the early hours of Thursday, 26 March 2015. The coalition’s campaign, requested by President Hadi through the Gulf Cooperation Council, was launched against Ansar Allah and their ally Saleh. The intervention aimed to restore Hadi’s power and reinstall his legitimacy.
In the city of Taiz, militants belonging to the Ansar Allah armed group (Houthis), as well as individuals from the Special Security Forces (Central Security), attacked two separate demonstrations protesting the armed presence of Ansar Allah and their ally Saleh on Tuesday, 24 March 2015. The attacks killed at least 8 protestors and injured around 108 protestors. Immediately following this, the armed conflict in Taiz escalated, making the city one of the most prominent areas of clashes, where Ansar Allah militants and Saleh’s forces fought the “popular resistance” forces and the army loyal to President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The armed forces of the popular resistance and the army loyal to President Hadi have been backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition air force.
The majority of fighting took place in the city of Taiz, but later expanded to the rural and suburban areas of the city. As the bloody conflict progressed with increasing intensity, and the violence spread across Yemen, the poorest among Arab states, the country witnessed extremely deteriorating conditions. This was accompanied by an unprecedented breakdown of human rights. An appalling list of violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) by all parties to the conflict has risen in various Yemeni cities and regions.
The city of Taiz became the most prominent Yemeni city torn apart by the violent conflict. This city, along with some of its rural areas, presents a clear manifestation of the darkest and most tragic forms of war, showcasing the wide, heavy toll of war’s most grave violations, including killing through various means, destruction, and blockade. These violations have severely affected civilians and undermined their lives throughout the entire period of armed conflict the city has witnessed.
Violations in the Armed Ground Conflict (April 2015 - March 2016)
In the context of the armed ground conflict during the period between April 2015 and March 2016, which is the focus of this report, Ansar Allah (Houthis) and former President Saleh’s forces are responsible for the majority of the bloody and indiscriminate attacks, which resulted in the killing and injuring of hundreds of civilians in the city of Taiz. On the ground, both warring sides share a pattern of locating and deploying forces in the middle of heavily residential areas and launching attacks from and on these sites.
Thousands of civilians found themselves trapped between the two conflict sides, facing various forms of violations. Among the most apparent violations are:
- Killing and maiming of civilians.
- Attacks on medical staff and medical facilities.
- Targeting of schools and occupying them for military purposes.
- Military recruitment of children.
- Ansar Allah imposing a suffocating blockade from time to time on the city to prevent the entry of medical and humanitarian aid.
- The popular resistance assaulting relief organizations and humanitarian aid warehouses, as well as carrying out field executions.
In its report "Chapters from Hell", Mwatana Organization for Human Rights documents a number of incidents where hundreds of civilians were killed and injured, and the livelihood of thousands was damaged amid the armed conflict and violations of International Humanitarian Law committed by the warring sides between April 2015 and March 2016. These violations have continued even after March 2016.
Methodology and Documentation
During the preparation of this report, Mwatana Organization used a methodology of investigative fieldwork, conducting investigative visits and direct interviews with primary information sources on incidents, and collecting supporting documents. Fieldwork and investigation of the data mentioned in this report took place between May 2015 and October 2016. The organization conducted at least 425 interviews in Arabic with survivors, relatives of victims, eyewitnesses, as well as humanitarian and medical staff and relevant stakeholders. Mwatana Organization also collected at least 55 field observations, which documented cases of child recruitment for military purposes.
This report contains 177 incidents investigated by Mwatana Organization, where violations of International Humanitarian Law and Customary Humanitarian Law occurred. The organization’s team also collected testimonies regarding the blockade and restrictions imposed on the entry of food, commercial, and medical goods, as well as humanitarian aid to the city.
Mwatana Organization consulted with international experts for analysis in the areas of International Humanitarian Law and Customary Humanitarian Law, as well as expertise in arms to analyze the weapons used in attacks documented in this report.
The report considers the Central Market (the intersection of Jamal’s Street and Al-Tahrir’s Street) as the center of the city of Taiz. Locations where conflict sides are based and locations of attacks were determined accordingly. Google Maps and documented testimonies by the Mwatana Organization’s team were used to estimate distances. The organization also consulted with an expert specialized in space planning in Taiz governorate to measure distances and directions and to determine the locations of attacks. Additionally, a number of consultants and experts were consulted.
Indiscriminate Attacks and Casualties
Regarding indiscriminate attacks and incidents of firing bullets and anti-aircraft ammunition, this report "Chapters from Hell" sheds light on:
- 32 indiscriminate attacks
- 22 incidents of firing live ammunition, including bullets and anti-aircrafts.
In these attacks and incidents, at least 103 civilians were killed, including 50 children and 14 women. Furthermore, 229 civilians were injured, including 98 children and 16 women, during the period between April 2015 and March 2016.
The attacks and incidents documented in this report present a sample of scores of attacks and incidents that Mwatana Organization documented during the same period. The organization has also documented the killing of at least 217 civilians, including 87 children and 32 women, as well as injuries to 479 civilians, among whom were 189 children and 48 women.