A troubling surge in violence has emerged as the Houthi militia intensifies its systematic campaign against civilians across various Yemeni governorates.

Recent findings from Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) highlight severe human rights violations occurring between late December 2024 and mid-January 2025, including extrajudicial killings, abductions, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

These actions have exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, impacting communities in governorates such as al-Bayda, Saada, Ibb, al-Hodeidah, Sana’a, al-Jawf, and Amran. The report underscores an urgent need for international intervention to address these escalating abuses and protect vulnerable populations.

The WJWC report reveals a chilling pattern of brutality by the Houthi militia, illustrating the grim reality faced by civilians under their control. Through verified information from multiple sources, the organization has meticulously documented a range of atrocities that reflect a significant escalation in violence.

The scale and intensity of these violations indicate a calculated strategy aimed at terrorizing the civilian population and consolidating power. This systematic campaign, characterized by indiscriminate attacks, forced displacements, and the denial of humanitarian aid, has created an atmosphere of fear and suffering, necessitating immediate global attention and action.

A Widespread Crisis of Violations

The violations, spanning al-Bayda, Saada, Ibb, al-Hodeidah, Sana’a, al-Jawf and Amran governorates, include extrajudicial killings, forced displacements, abductions, destruction of homes and public infrastructure, and the denial of humanitarian aid. Economic blockades and violent raids have left countless communities reeling from fear and devastation.

Al-Bayda Governorate: Systematic Destruction and Displacement

The Hanakat Al Masoud area in al-Qurayshiyah District experienced particularly intense attacks between January 6th and 12th, 2025. A suffocating siege, coupled with heavy weaponry and drone strikes, resulted in the deaths of approximately 30 civilians and injuries to dozens more, including women and children.

The militia engaged in field executions, booby-trapped and destroyed homes—six houses were booby-trapped, three completely destroyed, five burned, and nine others completely leveled by indiscriminate shelling, with many others sustaining partial damage. They looted property, seizing valuables such as gold, jewelry, and critical documents, and abducted around 400 civilians, including children. Hundreds of families were forcibly displaced, fleeing amidst relentless bombardment.

The complete severing of communication and internet access during the attacks further underscores the Houthi's intent to conceal their crimes and prevent outside observation or intervention. A prior mass arrest campaign on December 26th, 2024, in Al-Farzaa village saw the abduction of ten individuals, including children and the elderly, accompanied by the destruction of farms and property, further destabilizing the lives of local residents and demonstrating a pattern of systematic targeting of vulnerable populations.

Saada Governorate: Widespread Kidnappings

 From late December 2024 to early January 2025, a widespread kidnapping campaign targeted over 300 civilians, including 50 women. These abductions, occurring in targeted raids across several areas, including al-Abdin and Gharaz near the governorate center, highlight the militia's reach and disregard for human life. 

The victims were transported to undisclosed locations, leaving their families in anguish and uncertainty, with limited information available regarding their treatment or whereabouts. The sheer number of abductions points to an organized campaign aimed at silencing dissent and intimidating the population.  The selection of victims, including women, suggests a deliberate targeting of vulnerable groups.

Ibb Governorate: Crackdown on Protests and Education

The Houthi militia's actions in Ibb Governorate demonstrate a calculated effort to suppress dissent and control the population through intimidation and violence. On January 14, 2025, the abduction of students protesting the replacement of their school principal with an unqualified individual showcased the militia's intolerance for peaceful protest.

Dozens of students were arrested and detained following this peaceful demonstration, highlighting the Houthi's willingness to use excessive force to quell any opposition. Earlier in January, a sweeping abduction campaign targeted young men, reportedly subjected to ideological indoctrination through forced participation in "cultural courses," a tactic used to exert political control and suppress independent thought.

Similar abductions in late December targeted over 30 residents in al-Jaashi village and surrounding areas, emphasizing the widespread nature of these human rights violations.  The targeting of students and young men suggests a deliberate attempt to control future generations and eliminate potential sources of opposition.

Al-Hodeidah Governorate: Elderly Civilians and IDPs Targeted

The campaign of kidnappings in al-Hodeidah, spanning late December 2024 to early January 2025, targeted civilians across several districts, including the elderly, demonstrating a disregard for age or vulnerability. The abduction and subsequent murder of Fatima Ahmed Ayesh, a displaced person from the Markouda camp, exemplifies the extreme brutality inflicted upon civilians.

Her body was discovered two weeks after her abduction, bearing the marks of torture, highlighting the systematic nature of the violence and the complete lack of accountability for these crimes. The abduction of 75-year-old Omar Jaber al-Jahbi under the pretext of his sons' activities highlights the arbitrary and inhumane nature of these actions, demonstrating the militia's willingness to use any pretext to justify their violence.

Amran Governorate: Tribal Siege and Collective Punishment

The January 16th, 2025, military siege of the Al-Ghoul tribal area in the Raydah District followed peaceful tribal efforts to recover a confiscated transport truck. This siege, a blatant violation of civilian rights, represents a policy of collective punishment and intimidation, demonstrating the Houthi's willingness to use collective punishment against entire communities to suppress dissent.

An earlier armed raid on a mosque in Khamer City on January 10th, 2025, resulted in the abduction of nine students who had traveled from Sana’a and a religious leader, Salafi Sheikh Khaled Masart, highlighting the targeting of religious figures and students as a means of controlling religious and educational institutions.

Al-Jawf Governorate: Economic Strangulation and Violence

Since December 2024, a harsh economic blockade of the Afi area in Bart al-Anan District has restricted essential goods, causing severe shortages and deepening the humanitarian crisis. Residents have staged protests, highlighting the militia's use of economic suffocation as a tool of oppression, demonstrating a calculated strategy to weaken the civilian population through economic hardship.

The killings of Mansour Naji Mansour al-Jua’idi and Talib Yahya al-Shaeri at Houthi checkpoints in al-Yatmah District underscore the dangers faced by civilians, highlighting the arbitrary use of lethal force by Houthi checkpoints. An armed raid on al-Dhalfan in al-Matmah District, involving heavy bombardment, caused widespread panic and damage to civilian property, demonstrating the militia's willingness to use excessive force against civilians.

Targeting Diplomatic Personnel in Sana’a

In Sana’a, dozens of former employees of international diplomatic missions were abducted. The militia raided homes, confiscated belongings, and barred detainees from contacting their families. High-profile victims included employees of American and British embassies, highlighting a blatant disregard for international norms.

International Condemnation and Legal Implications

WJWC condemned these actions as flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, labeling them war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. The economic blockades breach Article 54 of the First Additional Protocol, which prohibits starvation as a method of warfare. Similarly, the abductions of diplomatic personnel violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

These systematic violations reflect the Houthi militia’s intent to consolidate power through repression and intimidation,” the organization stated. “The targeting of civilians, destruction of infrastructure, and forced displacement are deliberate strategies to instill fear and suppress opposition.

The WJWC urged the international community to take decisive action by demanding the immediate release of abductees and the cessation of violence targeting civilians. They called for the deployment of independent investigators to document these violations and ensure accountability.

Furthermore, the organization emphasized the need to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected regions and lift blockades. WJWC also insisted on the importance of publicly condemning these crimes to deter further violations. It stressed that inaction could embolden militias and perpetuate the suffering of the Yemeni people, warning that "silence in the face of these atrocities is complicity."

Conclusion

As Yemen grapples with one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, the Houthi militia's escalating violations underscore the urgent need for international intervention. The global community must act decisively to protect civilians, ensure accountability, and pave the way for peace and stability in Yemen. Without justice, the cycle of violence will continue to devastate lives and jeopardize regional security.