On March 19, 2024, Houthi authorities detonated a house with explosives in Radaa in al-Bayda governorate, reportedly killing civilians and injuring dozens. Among those killed were children and nine members from one family, according to media reports. More people are believed to be under the rubble of neighboring homes damaged or destroyed by the explosion. The Houthis have controlled al-Bayda, 200 kilometers southeast of Sanaa, Yemen’s largest city, since September 2021.

The Houthi Interior Ministry acknowledged that their forces were responsible, stating it was an “irresponsible reaction by some security individuals who used excessive and illegal force, and that was without the knowledge of the Ministry of Interior.” However, the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have not shared further details on the individuals responsible, and Houthi forces have previously attacked civilian structures, including homes.

The intentional attack on people under the Houthis’ authority is a serious violation of international law, Human Rights Watch said.

The following quote can be attributed to Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch: 

“Houthi forces in Yemen are continuing their brutal treatment of civilians under their rule by deliberately detonating a residential home and apparently killing at least nine people from the same family. The Houthis’ acknowledgment of this grave violation will ring hollow unless they immediately investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account, and provide prompt and adequate reparations for those affected.”