Human Rights Network Accuses Houthis of Committing Dozens of Crimes in Marib Last Week

A Yemeni man sits next to his belongings in a camp in southern Marib after being displaced by Houthi attacks. (Reuters)
A Yemeni man sits next to his belongings in a camp in southern Marib after being displaced by Houthi attacks. (Reuters)
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Human Rights Network Accuses Houthis of Committing Dozens of Crimes in Marib Last Week

A Yemeni man sits next to his belongings in a camp in southern Marib after being displaced by Houthi attacks. (Reuters)
A Yemeni man sits next to his belongings in a camp in southern Marib after being displaced by Houthi attacks. (Reuters)

A human rights report by the Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms revealed that the Iranian-backed Houthi militias have, in the last week, committed dozens of violations against residents and private property in the Al-Amoud area of Al-Joubah district in the Marib governorate.

Thousands of forcibly displaced Yemenis in southern Marib are facing tragic humanitarian conditions.

According to the report, the Houthis indiscriminately bombed populated areas with ballistic missiles, drones, mortars, howitzers, tank shells, and heavy and medium weapons, which caused the death of 20 civilians and the injury of 30 others, including women and children.

Houthi attacks have damaged and destroyed nine houses and more than ten civilian vehicles. More so, the militias destroyed a Salafi mosque in al-Joubah, where Houthis have laid siege to over 21,000 civilians.

The rights network said the intense Houthi attacks had uprooted more than 10,000 families.

Around 1,500 students from the Dar Al-Hadith Al-Salafi Center were displaced alongside their families after the militias targeted the center in the Al-Amoud area with two missiles.

The total shutdown of education facilities in Al-Joubah has deprived about 6,000 students from continuing their education.

Al-Joubah is suffering from a severe shortage in all basic needs, especially food and medicine, because of the stifling siege imposed by the Houthis.

The rights network called on all international and local organizations and the international community to exercise all means of pressure on the Houthis so that they can lift the suffocating siege on the people of the Abdiya district in Marib.

It also urged clearing the mines planted by the militias at the entrances of the district.

The network also called on the International Red Cross to condemn the siege in Abdiya and all the crimes committed by the militias against civilians. It encouraged running an urgent humanitarian relief convoy to the villages of Abdiya.



UN Chief: UNIFIL Uncovered Over 100 Hezbollah Arms Caches in South Lebanon

This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)
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UN Chief: UNIFIL Uncovered Over 100 Hezbollah Arms Caches in South Lebanon

This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday the UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, has uncovered over 100 weapons caches belonging to Hezbollah or other armed groups since the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect on Nov. 27.

He reiterated that Lebanese government forces as well as UN peacekeepers are the only sides who should have armed presence south of the Litani river near the border with Israel. He said the presence of other forces, an apparent reference to Hezbollah, “undermine Lebanon’s stability.”

Guterres made his comments Friday during a visit to the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura in south Lebanon near the border with Israel.

Speaking about military operations by Israeli troops inside Lebanon since the announcement of the 60-day truce, Guterres said: “They must stop.”

He said such operations were in violation of Security Council resolution 1701, adding Israel must withdraw from Lebanese territories.

Addressing the assembled leadership of the UN mission, he emphasized the critical role of peacekeepers, stating: “You are not just on the Blue Line of Lebanon but on the frontline of peace. The UNIFIL mission is the most challenging environment for peacekeepers anywhere.”

After returning to the capital Beirut in the afternoon, the Secretary-General held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was also visiting the Lebanese capital.

The Secretary-General's visit will continue on Saturday, with a full day of meetings in Beirut.

He is scheduled to meet President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.