A rights report reveals Houthi militias raided 532 homes and arrested about 212 citizens within 20 days.

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms has reported alarming activities by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias. Over a span of 20 days, these militias raided 532 homes and businesses across several provinces, including Saada, Sana’a, Hodeidah, Ibb, and Dhamar. During this period, they arrested and abducted approximately 212 citizens.

Details of the Raids

According to a report shared with the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the Houthi militias launched a broad campaign of raids from April 1 to April 20. They targeted citizens’ homes, street vendors, and commercial establishments, accusing them of “espionage” and “sending coordinates of Houthi positions.”

Restrictions on Communication

The network highlighted that residents in Houthi-controlled areas reported several concerning actions. The militias confiscated devices that emit signals, banned the use of certain smart applications, and removed surveillance cameras from public spaces. Additionally, they reverted to using outdated communication devices acquired from Iran in 2014, fearing a repeat of the “pager” incident in Lebanon.

Increased Surveillance and Intimidation

The report further indicated that the Houthis intensified their surveillance of communications and engaged in espionage against tribal and political leaders, including those allied with them. This heightened scrutiny aims to prevent defections or leaks of information to adversaries. The militias have also imposed strict oversight on community leaders and provoked non-loyal tribes, particularly in Al-Bayda and around Sana’a, to create pretexts for future attacks.

Human Rights Violations

The network revealed that the Houthis transferred several detainees to locations used for storing weapons, potentially employing them as human shields. This act constitutes a grave humanitarian crime that cannot be overlooked and reflects the fear and confusion within the group as their project nears its end.

Call for Accountability

In their statement, the network emphasized the close connection between the crimes of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and the use of detainees as human shields. Despite the varied methods of these violations, civilians remain the primary targets of the Houthis’ severe abuses. The network noted that while the Houthis face a series of American airstrikes, they resort to systematic internal repression against innocent civilians in their controlled areas.

The network holds the Houthi militias legally and morally accountable for the torture and exploitation of detainees as human shields. They urge immediate and serious actions to protect Yemenis from the terror inflicted by this group.

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