En 
Ar 
Al-Bayda, Yemen – On Thursday, January 9, 2025, the Houthi militia launched a violent attack on the Al Masoud area in the al-Quraishiyah district of Al-Bayda Governorate.
The assault, carried out using artillery shells, drones, and heavy and medium weapons, resulted in the deaths of three civilians, including one woman, and left 12 others injured, among them three women.
According to local sources, the attack targeted civilian homes indiscriminately, causing significant destruction and displacement of local families. Documented videos and photographs obtained by Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) show homes engulfed in flames, highlighting the devastating impact of the indiscriminate shelling.
The humanitarian crisis in the area has been exacerbated by a suffocating siege imposed by the militia, preventing the evacuation of injured civilians to hospitals and blocking the delivery of critical medical and food supplies. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, with their lives at risk due to the lack of timely medical attention.
The attack has led to a further deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Al Masoud, with the blockade leaving residents increasingly vulnerable. Families displaced by the violence face mounting challenges, including shortages of basic necessities.
Call for Accountability
WJWC described the assault as a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a potential war crime. The organization emphasized that targeting civilians, displacing families, and besieging areas contravene international conventions aimed at protecting non-combatants during armed conflicts.
These actions, according to WJWC, are part of a systematic campaign of violence by the Houthi militia against regions resisting their control. The organization called for immediate international intervention to halt the military escalation and alleviate the suffering of affected communities.
International Appeal
WJWC urged the global community, including the United Nations, to condemn the attack and pressure the Houthi militia to lift the siege on Al Masoud. The organization called for an independent international investigation into the violations, holding perpetrators accountable, and imposing sanctions on Houthi leaders implicated in the violence.
Additionally, WJWC appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance to be provided to the besieged residents, including the delivery of medical aid and food supplies to address the worsening crisis.
"The international silence on such atrocities emboldens further crimes against civilians," the organization stated, urging decisive action to protect the lives of those trapped in Al Masoud and ensure justice for the victims.
