WJWC Condemns U.S.-Israeli Airstrikes on Civilian Infrastructure in Yemen

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) unequivocally condemns the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that struck civilian infrastructure across Yemen on May 5th and 6th, 2025.

The attacks targeted densely populated and economically vital sites in the governorates of Al Hodaidah, Sana’a, and Amran—resulting in at least eight civilian deaths and injuring more than 80 others, according to WJWC’s preliminary documentation.

Among the targets were the Bajil and Amran cement factories, the Dhahban and Heziaz power stations in Sana’a, and Sana’a International Airport. These facilities serve no military purpose and are essential to the survival of Yemen’s population amid one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The strikes were carried out without warning, justification, or evidence of direct military use, in clear violation of international humanitarian law.

In Al Hodaidah, missiles struck the Bajil Cement Factory and damaged port infrastructure critical to food and fuel imports. Named victims include factory workers Ahmed al-Akhaly, Mohammed Dhiabi, and Ali al-Baziji. In Sana’a, airstrikes on power plants and the airport killed at least three civilians and destroyed multiple Yemenia civilian aircraft. In Amran, the local cement factory sustained heavy damage, with at least 16 workers wounded.

WJWC stresses that these actions constitute a serious breach of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which prohibit attacks on civilian objects unless they are being used for direct military operations. Even under such conditions, the principle of proportionality must be upheld. The deliberate targeting of protected infrastructure, with foreseeable civilian casualties, may amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

These latest attacks are not isolated. They form part of a disturbing and sustained pattern of impunity in Yemen, where military forces—often foreign—have repeatedly struck civilian infrastructure with no accountability. Prior atrocities, such as the bombings of Ras Issa Port in Hodeidah, Farwa Market in Sana’a, and the migrant detention center in Sa’ada, remain uninvestigated and unpunished.

Yemen’s decimated infrastructure cannot withstand continued assaults of this magnitude. The destruction of power stations cripples hospitals and water systems. Damaged ports sever lifelines to humanitarian aid. Attacks on factories eliminate livelihoods for hundreds. In a country where over 17 million people depend on humanitarian assistance, these strikes risk deepening famine, economic collapse, and mass displacement.

WJWC urgently calls for:

·     An immediate, independent, and UN-supervised investigation into the May airstrikes and prior unaddressed attacks on civilian infrastructure, including Ras Issa Port, Farwa Market, and the Sa’ada detention center.

·  Accountability for perpetrators, including state and non-state actors found responsible for unlawful attacks, through appropriate international legal mechanisms.

·   Concrete action by the UN Human Rights Council and international bodies to document ongoing violations and to end the climate of impunity surrounding military operations in Yemen.

·         Reparations and justice for victims, including financial compensation, medical care, and public acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

Women Journalists Without Chains affirms that the continued failure to investigate and prosecute attacks on civilian infrastructure will only embolden further violations and accelerate the collapse of any prospect for peace in Yemen. The international community must not allow these crimes to pass unchallenged.

WJWC remains steadfast in its commitment to documenting violations against civilians and advocating for justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights in Yemen. In coordination with local and international partners, we will continue to amplify the voices of victims and demand an end to unlawful aggression.

Released by:

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC)

May 6, 2025