Houthi Landmines Kill 100 Civilians During Ceasefire in Yemen

Houthi mines and unexploded ordnance seized by the Saudi Project for Landmines Clearance in Yemen (MASAM)
Houthi mines and unexploded ordnance seized by the Saudi Project for Landmines Clearance in Yemen (MASAM)
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Houthi Landmines Kill 100 Civilians During Ceasefire in Yemen

Houthi mines and unexploded ordnance seized by the Saudi Project for Landmines Clearance in Yemen (MASAM)
Houthi mines and unexploded ordnance seized by the Saudi Project for Landmines Clearance in Yemen (MASAM)

The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs revealed that casualties increased by 38 percent during the truce due to Houthi landmines.

According to the latest UN office reports, 169 children and 79 women were killed or injured in the six months following the truce, citing landmines and unexploded artillery as the primary cause of casualties.

The report stated that landmines and unexploded artillery caused 343 civilian casualties, including 95 deaths, and 248 injuries, between Apr. 2 and Sept. 30, compared to 248, including 101 deaths and 147 injuries, in the six months before the ceasefire.

It also noted that preliminary evidence indicated torrential rains and flooding in July and August caused the explosive materials to shift.

Meanwhile, the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project stated that the monthly rate of civilian casualties dropped 54.3-percent, from 2,051 (including 630 deaths) during the six months preceding the truce to 936 (including 288 fatalities) between Apr. 2 and Sept. 21, 2022.

According to the project, this year's victims were mainly in Hodeidah, Taiz, Saada, Marib, and al-Jawf.

Hodeidah saw significantly higher numbers, and of the 598 civilian casualties reported in the governorate since the beginning of 2018, 31 percent have been killed in the nine months since the governorate’s frontlines shifted in 2021.

The UN office renewed the call for urgent and concrete efforts to clear the areas, noting insufficient funding from the Mine Action-Global Protection Cluster, noting that demining partners cleared 2,653,198 square meters of contaminated land across Yemen starting last June.

The office recalled the great benefits of the truce, saying it led to a decrease in the average monthly rate of internally displaced persons by 76 percent, noting that between Apr. 2 and Sept. 30, 11,294 families were displaced, compared to 46,640 families in the six months preceding the truce.

According to the report of the UN office, about 69 percent of the displacement, amounting to 7,500 families, has been reported since the declaration of the truce, most of whom fled sporadic clashes in areas along the front lines.

However, the UN report confirmed that the total number of displaced people decreased significantly in these governorates, compared to six months before the armistice when it was 32,775.



ISIS Flag Raised in Kirkuk Village

Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
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ISIS Flag Raised in Kirkuk Village

Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk
Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk

Iraqi security forces on Friday encircled a village in Kirkuk province, located 250 kilometers north of Baghdad, after an ISIS flag was raised there.

The move comes amid statements from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein about the resurgence of the terrorist group, which he said is reorganizing following the collapse of ISIS's Syrian stronghold.

In a phone conversation with UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, Hussein warned that ISIS is rebuilding its strength, having seized significant weaponry left behind by the Syrian military’s collapse. This has allowed the group to expand its control in the region.

Hussein also raised alarms about the potential fallout from ISIS members escaping prisons and the situation at the Al-Hol camp, which holds the families of ISIS fighters in northeastern Syria, warning it could destabilize security in both Syria and Iraq.

He stressed the need for a political process in Syria that includes all components of society, and highlighted the importance of sustained international aid to the Syrian people.

Falconer expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the Aqaba meetings, which included British participation, emphasizing the need for continued dialogue to monitor developments in Syria.

He also voiced concerns over the potential for armed clashes between ISIS remnants and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), stressing that Syria cannot afford more internal conflict.

ISIS Flag in Kirkuk

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Baghdad has presented a plan for Syria following the recent shifts in the region and remains prepared for all possibilities. On Friday, Iraqi security forces were surprised to find an ISIS flag raised at the gate of a school in a village in Kirkuk. The village, located in the Daqouq district south of Kirkuk, is believed to harbor ISIS remnants.

An Iraqi security source confirmed that the forces had surrounded the village of Khalid in Daqouq and launched a search operation for the perpetrators. Last week, a similar incident occurred in the Hawija district of Kirkuk.

Iraqi-Jordanian Coordination

Sudani also reiterated Iraq’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and expressed readiness to support a comprehensive political process in the country without intervening in its internal affairs. In an interview with Iraqiya TV, Sudani stated that Iraq is concerned about the situation in Syria, particularly regarding the presence of armed groups and ISIS elements. He confirmed that joint operations with Jordan and the US-led coalition have already begun.

The Prime Minister called on Syria’s new leadership to ensure respect for the country’s diverse components and avoid excluding any group. He emphasized that Iraq, as a key member of the anti-ISIS coalition, remains committed to confronting any terrorist threat at its borders.

Sudani assured that Iraq faces no external threats or demands and is pursuing responsible dialogue based on mutual respect, shared interests, and securing its borders, which are now better fortified than ever.

The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has raised concerns over the fate of approximately 50,000 former ISIS fighters detained in camps in northern Syria. With the region in chaos, there are growing fears of these detention centers being breached, potentially paving the way for the group’s resurgence.