Yemen

Casualties

In December 2022, there were 15 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, 10 of which resulted in 77 civilian casualties, of whom 20 were killed and 57 injured. Civilians accounted for 76% of the total 101 casualties, as there were also 24 recorded armed-actor casualties, eight of whom were killed and 16 injured.

The majority, 79% (61) of civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 27% (21) occurred in places of worship, 23% (18) in villages, 18% (14) at public gatherings, and 10% (8) in agricultural lands. 

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Yemen were Saada (34 civilian casualties), Hadramout (21), Marib (14), and Hudaydah (8).

The majority of civilian casualties, 53% (41), were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Saudi Arabia. Non-state actors, specifically unknown non-state actors, caused 36% (28) of civilian casualties, and actors of unknown name and status caused 10% (8).

The majority, 90% (69), of civilian casualties were caused by ground-launched weapons, specifically artillery shells (38), grenades (21), and non-specific shelling (10). Directly-emplaced weapons, specifically landmines, caused 10% (8) of civilian casualties. 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 02December 2022, when one civilian was killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a mosque in Yabath, Hadramaut, during Friday prayers. 

Incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen in December increased since November, when 10 incidents were recorded, resulting in 30 civilian casualties (seven killed, 23 injured). In October,  23 incidents were recorded, causing 44 civilian casualties (14 killed, 30 injured).

Sources: Al Mayadeen, Urdu Point, India Blooms

Casualties

In November 2022, there were 10 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, four of which resulted in 30 civilian casualties, of whom seven were killed and 23 injured. Civilians accounted for 42% of the total 71 casualties, as there were also 41 recorded armed-actor casualties, 21 of whom were killed and 20 injured.

All civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 50% (15), occurred in urban residential areas, and 50% (15) occurred in villages.

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Yemen were Lahj (where 15 civilian casualties were recorded), Abyan (9), Hudaydah (5), and Taiz (1).

The majority of civilian casualties, 80% (24), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Houthi militants. Actors of unknown name and status caused one civilian casualty, while state actors, specifically Saudi Arabia, reportedly caused five civilian casualties.

The use of ground-launched weapons was the cause of all civilian casualties. Specifically, missiles caused 80% (24) of casualties, non-specific shelling caused 17% (5), and artillery shelling caused 3% (1).

The highest casualty incident occurred on 11November 2022, when two civilians were killed and 13 others were injured in a Houthi guided missile strike against a military vehicle in Qadash, Lahj. Four Yemeni soldiers were also killed. 

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen in November was less than half the number seen in October, when 23 incidents were recorded, causing 44 civilian casualties.

Sources: Famagusta Gazette, Arab News

In October 2022, there were 23 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, 13 of which resulted in 44 civilian casualties, of whom 14 were killed and 30 injured, including at least 13 children and one woman. Civilians accounted for 48% of the total 91 casualties, as there were also 47 recorded armed-actor casualties, 28 of whom were killed and 19 injured. 

The majority of civilian casualties, 89% (39), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 37% (17) occurred in urban residential areas, 23% (10) in villages, 11% (5) in entertainment venues, 9% (4) in commercial premises, 5% (2) on roads, and 2% (1) in town centres.

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Yemen were Taiz (21 civilian casualties), Hudaydah (9), Bayda (5), Hadramout (4), Sanaa (2), Jawf (2), and Shabwa (1).

The majority of civilian casualties, 86% (38), were caused by non-state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Houthi militants (26), unknown non-state actors (9), Al Amaliqa (2), and Al Qaeda Arabian Peninsula (1). Actors of unknown name and status caused 11% (5) of civilian casualties. State actors, specifically the Saudi-led coalition, reportedly caused 2% (1) of civilian casualties.

Directly-emplaced weapons were the cause of 43% (19) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (9), landmines (9), and roadside bombs (1). The use of air-launched explosive weapons, specifically air-dropped bombs, were the cause of 39% (17) of civilian casualties. Ground-launched explosive weapons were the cause of 18% (8) of civilian casualties, specifically mortars (6), and missiles (2).

The highest casualty incident occurred on 07 October 2022, when eight civilians were injured, including one child, in a Houthi drone strike on a civilian car in Taiz.

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen in October saw a significant rise from September, in which 12 incidents caused 45 civilian casualties (11 killed and 34 injured). In August, nine incidents were recorded, which caused nine civilian casualties (five killed and four injured). 

Sources: Kuna, Yemen Online

Casualties

In September 2022, there were 12 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, six of which resulted in 45 civilian casualties, of whom 11 were killed and 34 injured, including at least three children. Civilians accounted for 45% of the total 101 casualties, as there were also 56 recorded armed-actor casualties, 33 of whom were killed and 23 injured. 

The majority of civilian casualties, 80% (36), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 51% (23) occurred in villages and 29% (13) on public transport.

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Yemen were Saada (26 civilian casualties), Taiz (15), and Hudaydah (4).  

The majority of civilian casualties, 60% (27), were caused by state actors’ use of explosive weapons, specifically Saudi Arabia (26) and forces of the Saudi-led coalition (1). Non-state armed groups caused 40% (18) of civilian casualties, specifically unknown non-state actors (13) and Houthi militants (3). 

The use of ground-launched explosive weapons were the cause of 58% (26) of civilian casualties, specifically combined ground-launched explosive weapons (22) and mortar shelling (4). Directly-emplaced weapons caused 40% (18) of civilian casualties, specifically non-specific IEDs (13) and landmines (5). Air-launched explosive weapons were the cause of 2% (1) of civilian casualties, specifically air strikes.

The highest casualty incident occurred on 08 September 2022, when four civilians were killed and 18 injured in Saudi rocket and artillery shelling of a village in Shada, Saada.

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen in September saw a significant rise from August, in which nine incidents caused nine civilian casualties (five killed and four injured). In July, nine incidents were recorded, which caused 26 civilian casualties (eight killed and 18 injured). 

Sources: YPA

Casualties

In August 2022, there were nine incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, six of which resulted in nine civilian casualties, of whom five were killed and four injured, including at least six children. Civilians accounted for 11% of the total 79 casualties, as there were also 70 recorded armed-actor casualties, 68 of whom were killed and two injured. 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 13 August 2022, when one man was killed and two boys injured in a landmine explosion in Aljazh, Hodeida. The landmine was allegedly planted by the Houthis.  

Sources: Al-Sahwah

Casualties

In July 2022, there were nine incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, seven of which resulted in 26 civilian casualties, of whom eight were killed and 18 injured, including at least 16 children and one woman. Civilians accounted for 84% of the total 31 casualties, as there were also five recorded armed-actor casualties, one of whom was killed and four injured. 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 23 July 2022, when one child was killed and 11 other children were injured in a Houthi artillery attack on a residential neighborhood in Taiz.  

Sources: Arab News, Save the Children, Siasat Daily

Casualties

In June 2022, there were 15 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen which resulted in 47 civilian casualties, of whom 17 were killed and 30 injured, including at least 13 children and two women. Civilians accounted for 92% of the total 51 casualties, as there were also four recorded armed-actor casualties, all of whom were killed. 

The majority of civilian casualties, 53% (25), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 28% (13) occurred on roads, 15% (7) on armed bases, 6% (3) in urban residential areas, and 4% (2) in locations where multiple urban areas were affected. The remaining civilian casualties occurred on agricultural land, 2% (1), or in places with no location information, 45% (21).

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Yemen were Aden (19 civilian casualties), Saada (14), Hodeidah (5), Hajjah (3), Bayda (3), Marib (2), and Jawf (1). 

The vast majority of civilian casualties, 43% (20), were caused by actors of unknown name and status. State actors, specifically Saudi Arabia, reportedly caused 17% (8) of civilian casualties, and unknown non-state actors caused 40% (19) of civilian casualties.  

The majority of civilian casualties, 68% (32), were caused by directly-emplaced weapons, specifically car bombs (19) and unexploded mines (13). Air-launched weapons caused 6% (3) of civilian casualties, specifically air-dropped bombs. Ground-launched weapons caused 4% (2) of civilian casualties, specifically combinations of ground-launched weapons. Weapons of unclear launch method caused 21% (10) of civilian casualties. 

The highest casualty incident occurred on 29 June 2022, at least six civilians and four soldiers were killed, and six people were injured in a car bomb in Aden that targeted the head of the security forces of Lahaj province as he travelled in a military convoy.  

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen in June saw a small rise from May, in which 13 incidents were recorded. However, those incidents caused 60 civilian casualties (25 killed and 35 injured). In April, two incidents were recorded, which caused six civilian casualties (three killed and three injured).

Sources: Crisis24, Al-Monitor, Reuters

Casualties

In May 2022, there were 13 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen which resulted in 60 civilian casualties, of whom 25 were killed and 35 injured. There were at least three children and nine women among the civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 91% of the total 66 casualties, as there were also six recorded armed-actor casualties, two of whom were killed and four injured. 

The majority of civilian casualties, 73% (44), occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 42% (25) occurred in markets, 17% (10) in urban residential areas, 1% (6) in commercial premises, and <1% (3) in villages. The remaining civilian casualties occurred on agricultural land, 3% (2), or in places with no location information, 23% (14).

The regions in which civilian casualties were reported in Yemen were Hudaydah (26 civilian casualties), Aden (25), Sanaa (6), Bayda (2), and Marib (1). 

The vast majority of civilian casualties, 73% (44), were caused by actors of unknown name and status. State actors, specifically Saudi Arabia, reportedly caused 16% (10) of civilian casualties, and non-state actors, specifically Houthi rebels, caused 10% (6) of civilian casualties.  

The use of ground-launched explosive weapons were the cause of 68% (41) of civilian casualties, specifically grenades (25), artillery shells (10), and missiles (6). Directly emplaced weapons were the cause of 23% (14) of civilian casualties, specifically landmines.

The highest casualty incident occurred on 26 May 2022, when at least five civilians were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack by unknown actors at a market in Aden.  

The number of incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen in May saw a sharp rise from April, in which two incidents were recorded along with six civilian casualties (three killed and three injured). In March, nine incidents were recorded, which caused 37 civilian casualties (11 killed and 26 injured).

Sources: AP

Casualties

In April 2022, there was one incident of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, which caused five civilian casualties, two of whom were killed and three injured. There were no recorded armed-actor casualties.

On 08 April 2022, two civilians were killed and three injured in an artillery shelling attack by Saudi Arabian military forces, in Saada.

Sources: Al Mayadeen, Morning Star 

Casualties

In February 2022, there were nine incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, seven of which caused 37 civilian casualties, 11 of whom were killed and 26 injured. Civilians accounted for 59% of the total 63 recorded casualties of explosive weapon use in Yemen in March, as there were also 26 recorded armed-actor casualties, nine of whom were killed and 17 injured. 

When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Yemen, 77% (35) of those killed and injured were civilians, compared to 11% (2) when casualties were recorded in non-populated areas. Of the 37 recorded civilian casualties from explosive weapon use in Yemen, 95% (35)  occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 49% (18) of civilian casualties occurred in urban residential areas, 30% (11) in commercial premises, and 16% (6) in locations in which the detonation of an explosive weapon affects multiple types of spaces within an urban environment. The location type was not reported in 5% (2) of civilian casualties.

Civilian casualties were recorded in two governorates in Yemen, Saada (26 civilian casualties), and Sanaa (11).

The use of ground-launched weapons were the cause of 70% (26) of civilian casualties, specifically shelling (22), and multiple forms of ground-launched explosive weapons (4). Air-launched explosive weapons caused 30% (11) of civilian casualties, specifically airstrikes. 

State actors were the recorded perpetrator in the case of all civilian casualties, primarily Saudi Arabia (21) and the Saudi-led coalition (16).

Sources: Reuters, AP, Xinhua

Casualties

In February 2022, there were 28 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen. Across 22 of these incidents, there were 106 recorded civilian casualties, 29 of whom were killed and 77 injured. Civilian casualties included 12 children and 13 women. Civilians accounted for 60% of the total 177 recorded casualties of explosive weapon use in Yemen in February, as there were also 71 recorded armed-actor casualties, 60 of whom were killed and 11 injured. 

When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Yemen, all of those killed and injured were civilians, compared to 30% (30) when casualties were recorded in non-populated areas. Of the 106 recorded civilian casualties from explosive weapon use in Yemen, 72% (76)  occurred in populated areas. 

Specifically, 24% (25) of civilian casualties occurred in urban residential areas, 19% (20) in places of worship, 17% (18) in locations in which the detonation of an explosive weapon affects multiple types of spaces within an urban environment, 8% (9) in a village, and 4% (4) in an encampment. The location type was not reported in 28% (30) of civilian casualties.

Civilian casualties were recorded in six governorates in Yemen, namely Saada (60 civilian casualties), Shabwa (20), Hajjah (11), Taiz (8), Hudaydah (4), and Marib (3).

The use of ground-launched weapons were the cause of 87% (92) of civilian casualties, specifically shelling (47), ground-launched missiles (32), mortars (12), artillery shells (9), and multiple forms of explosive weapons (1). Air-launched explosive weapons caused 10% (11) of civilian casualties, specifically airstrikes. Directly-emplaced weapons, specifically landmines, were the cause of 3% (3) of civilian casualties. 

State actors were the recorded perpetrator of 71% (75) of civilian casualties, primarily Saudi Arabia (48), the Saudi-led coalition (25), and Yemeni forces (2). Non-state actors, specifically Houthi rebels, were the recorded perpetrators of 26% (28) of civilian casualties. The perpetrator status in the case of 3% (3) of civilian casualties was recorded as unknown. 

The highest casualty incident of explosive weapon use in Yemen last month occurred on 19 February 2022, when a Houthi missile hit a mosque in Jardan, Shabwa, killing five civilians and injuring 15 others. 

The number of civilian casualties from explosive weapon use in Yemen in February 2022 fell by 88%, from 589 civilian casualties in January 2022 to 71 in February 2022. This is largely due to the high-casualty airstrike by Saudi Arabia on the detention center in Saada in January. The number of armed-actor casualties has also fallen substantially, by 71%, from January.

Sources: Xinhua, Radio Pakistan

Casualties

In January 2022 there were 29 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen. Across 23 of these incidents, there were 416 recorded civilian casualties (including 14 children, four women, and nine men), 148 of whom were killed and 268 injured. Civilians accounted for 36% of the total 1,155 recorded casualties of explosive weapon use in Yemen in January, as there were also 739 recorded armed-actor casualties, all of whom were killed. 

When explosive weapons were used in populated areas in Yemen, 99% (410) of those killed and injured were civilians, compared to 0.8% when casualties were recorded in non-populated areas. All but 1% of the recorded civilian casualties occurred in populated areas. 

The majority of all civilian casualties, 71% (294), occurred during a Saudi airstrike on a detention center for migrants in Saada, and in another Saudi airstrike on a telecommunications facility in Hudaydah. An additional 15% (62) of civilian casualties occurred in urban residential areas, 4% (17) in villages, 3% (11) on roads, 2% (10) in markets, 2% (10) in a location in which the detonation of an explosive weapon affects multiple types of spaces within an urban environment, >1% (4) occurred in attacks on hospitals, >1% (4) occurred on agricultural land, and >1% (4) of civilian casualties reported did not specify the location. 

The use of air-launched explosive weapons caused 84% (348) of civilian casualties, specifically airstrikes. Ground-launched weapons were the cause of 16% (67) of civilian casualties, specifically ground-launched missiles (47 civilian casualties), shelling (10), artillery shells (9), and multiple forms of explosive weapons (1). A directly-emplaced weapon, a landmine, was the cause of one civilian casualty. 

Civilian casualties were recorded in seven governorates in Yemen, namely Saada (340 civilian casualties), Marib (45), Sanaa (35), Shabwa (15), Taiz (9), Hudaydah (5), and Bayda (3). 

State actors were the recorded perpetrator of 88% (368) of civilian casualties, primarily Saudi Arabia (342) and the Saudi-led coalition (24). Non-state actors were the recorded perpetrators of 11% (47) of civilian casualties, and the perpetrator status in the case of one civilian casualty was recorded as unknown. 

The highest casualty incident of explosive weapon use in Yemen last month occurred on 21 January 2022, when a Saudi airstrike hit a detention center for migrants in Saada, killing at least 91 civilians and injuring at least 200 others. This incident is the sixth highest civilian casualty incident recorded since 2010 and the highest civilian casualty incident recorded since 2016. 

The number of civilian casualties from explosive weapon use in Yemen in January 2022 is two and a half times higher than the civilian casualty figures recorded in December 2021. This is owed to the particularly high-casualty Saudi airstrike on the detention center in Saada. The number of armed-actor casualties has also increased substantially from December 2021, by 35%, and marks the highest recorded since October 2021, when an intensification of conflict between Yemeni state forces, including the Saudi-led coalition, and Houthis saw armed-actor casualties increase notably. 

Sources: Reuters, BBC, VOA, Middle East Eye

Casualties

In December 2021, there were 33 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen. Across 27 of these incidents, 165 civilian casualties were recorded (including 17 children), 42 of whom were killed and 123 injured. Civilians accounted for 23% of the total 721 casualties in Yemen in December, as 548 armed-actors were also reportedly killed and eight injured. 

When explosive weapon use was recorded in populated areas in Yemen, 97% (144) of those killed and injured were civilians compared to 4% (21) when casualties were recorded in non-populated areas. The majority of civilian casualties, 87%, occurred in populated areas. Specifically, 36% (59) of civilian casualties occurred in urban residential areas, 21% (35) occurred in villages, 14% (23) in a location in which the detonation of an explosive weapon affects multiple types of spaces within an urban environment, 8% (14) on roads, 8% in an unidentified location-type, 6% (10) in a market, 4% (6) in a public building and 3% (5) in an encampment. 

The use of ground-launched explosive weapons caused 47% (78) of civilian casualties, specifically artillery shelling. Air-launched weapons caused 31% (51) of civilian casualties, specifically airstrikes. Directly-emplaced weapons, specifically landmines, caused 19% (31) of civilian casualties. 

Civilian casualties were recorded in eight governorates in Yemen, namely Saada (70 civilian casualties), Taiz (36), Hudaydah (16), Marib (15), Sanaa (9), Jawf (8), Mahwet (6), and Hajjah (5).

State actors were the recorded perpetrator of 73% (121) of civilian casualties, primarily Saudi Arabia (44) and the Saudi-led coalition (71). Non-state actors were the recorded perpetrators of 22% (36) of civilian casualties, and the perpetrator status in the case of 8 civilian casualties was recorded as ‘unknown’. 

The highest casualty incident took place on 2 December 2021 in northwest Saada governate, when at least three civilians were killed and 20 injured in shelling by Saudi-led coalition forces. 

The number of civilian casualties in December 2021 is more than double the figures recorded in November. It is the second highest level of civilian casualties recorded in Yemen in 2021, after October, in which 200 civilians were killed. The number of armed-actor casualties reached its highest level of 2021 in December, with 556 casualties, 548 of whom were killed and 8 injured. Of these, 81% of armed-actor casualties occurred in Marib as clashes between the Houthis and Yemen state forces, including Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition, intensified.

Sources: ANI, Al Kharab Alyemeni

Casualties

In November 2021, there were 14 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, 12 of which caused a total of 76 civilian casualties (including 14 children). Of these, 60 were injured and 16 killed. Civilians accounted for 20% of the total 374 casualties, as 298 armed-actors were reportedly killed and one injured. 

When explosive weapon use was recorded in populated areas in Yemen, all those killed and injured were civilians (48), compared to 9% (28) when casualties were recorded in non-populated areas. About 63% of the total civilian casualties occured in populated areas, while 37% took place in areas not reported as populated. Specifically, 39% (30) of civilian casualties occurred in locations in which the detonation of an explosive weapon affects multiple types of spaces within an urban environment, 34% (26) occurred in an unidentified location-type, 13% (10) at a school, 8% (6) in an urban residential area and 5% (4) on a road. 

The use of ground-launched explosive weapons caused 71% (54) of civilian casualties, specifically artillery shelling. Air-launched weapons caused 26% (20) of civilian casualties, specifically airstrikes. Two civilian casualties were caused by directly-emplaced weapons, in this case, a car bomb.

Civilian casualties were recorded in five governorates in Yemen, including Saada (56), Dhale (10), Hudaydah (6), Aden (2) and Shabwa (2).

State actors were the recorded perpetrator of 83% (63) of civilian casualties, primarily Saudi Arabia (49), the Saudi-led coalition (12) and the United States (2). The perpetrator status of 11 civilian casualties was recorded as ‘unknown’, and non-state actors were the recorded perpetrators in two cases of civilian casualties. 

One of the highest casualty incidents took place on 28 November 2021, when at least ten students were injured in a drone strike by the Saudi-led coalition on the Zaid al-Sharji school in Dhale Governorate. A second strike in the same area was reported to have caused additional civilian casualties, but the exact number was unspecified.

The number of civilian casualties has decreased substantially, by 62%, from October to November 2021. Armed-actor casualties have also gone down, by 29%, since last month. The number of recorded incidents has maintained, at 13 in October to 14 in November 2021, illustrating a decreased level of civilian harm per incident. 

Sources: Tasnim News Agency, Press TV 

Casualties

In October 2021 there were 13 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, ten of which caused 200 civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 32% (200) of the total recorded casualties (622), 90 of whom were killed and 110 injured. All civilian casualties occured in populated areas. There were an additional 422 armed-actor casualties from the use of explosive weapons, 416 of which were killed by airstrikes. Ground-launched weapons, including missiles and artillery shelling, caused 82% (164) of civilian casualties, with missiles accounting for the highest proportion at 54% (107). Directly-emplaced weapons, specifically car bombs, accounted for 18% (36) of civilian casualties. 

The governorates in which civilian casualties occurred were Marib (107), Saada (47), Aden (40), and Taiz (6). The location in which civilian casualties occurred were urban residential areas (96), villages (42), transport related infrastructure (23), and places of worship (39). Non-state actors were the recorded perpetrators of 75% (149) of civilian casualties, with Houthi rebels specifically named as the perpetrator of 56% (113) civilian deaths and injuries. State actors, namely Saudi Arabia, were responsible for 24% (47) of civilian casualties. Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition were responsible for all armed-actor casualties. 

Most civilian and armed-actor casualties in October 2021 occurred in Marib governorate, where fighting has intensified between the Houthis and government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition. In Marib in October 2021, 54 civilians were killed and 53 injured by Houthi missile strikes in populated areas. In the highest casualty incident, on 31 October 2021, 39 civilians were killed and several injured (there is no estimated figure) when two ballistic missiles hit a mosque and religious school in the al-Jubah district of Marib. Two days earlier, 13 civilians were killed in the same area, including a child, and 20 injured in a Houthi missile strike on a residential area of al-Jubah, Marib. 

Civilian casualties of explosive weapons in Yemen nearly tripled from September to October 2021, with 70 civilian casualties recorded in September 2021. However, the number of recorded incidents increased by only two in October, illustrating the increased lethality and harm per incident. Armed-actor casualties also saw a significant increase, from seven in September to 422 in October. This is the result of an intensification of fighting in Marib as the Houthis carry out an offensive on government forces' last stronghold in Yemen.

Sources: Anadolu Agency, Al Jazeera, Devdiscourse, WION

Casualties

In September 2021, there were 11 incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, nine of which caused 70 civilian casualties. Civilians accounted for 88% (70) of the total recorded casualties (80), including 21 fatalities and 49 injuries. The majority of incidents that caused civilian casualties, seven of nine, were located in populated areas, primarily villages, urban residential areas, and public gatherings. 

Explosive weapon use by non-state actors, primarily Houthis, caused 50 civilian casualties, including 10 fatalities and 40 injuries. Twenty civilian casualties were attributed to state actors, specifically the Saudi-led coalition. Ground-launched weapons, specifically missiles and artillery shelling, accounted for the majority of incidents and casualties in Yemen in September 2021. The use of ground-launched weapons caused 63% (44) of all civilian casualties, including 62% (13) of all fatalities this month. Directly-emplaced weapons, specifically mines, caused the second highest proportion of civilian casualties, 27% (19), and air-launched weapons, specifically airstrikes, caused the remaining 10% (seven) of civilian casualties. 

The highest casualty incident took place on 25 September when a ballistic missile launched by Houthis targeting a public gathering in Medi, Hajja governorate, killed 12 people, nine of whom were civilians, and injured 22 other civilians. 

The number of civilian casualties resulting from the use of explosive weapons in Yemen in September rose significantly from 13 in August 2021, but remains lower than the 2021 high point of 115 civilian casualties in July 2021. 

Sources: Debriefer, Arab News

In August 2021 there were seven incidents of explosive weapon use recorded, 13 civilian casualties and 136 armed actor casualties. The number of civilian casualties in August decreased markedly from 115 in July. Nine of the 13 civilian casualties in August were caused by ground launched weapons, specifically artillery shelling, and the remaining four were caused by directly emplaced weapons, specifically a car bomb. All civilian casualties took place in populated areas: nine in urban residential areas and four at a market. Nine of the 13 civilian casualties, including two fatalities, were caused by artillery shelling by Saudi Arabian forces, across three separate incidents in the Saada region.

The worst incident of explosive weapon use for civilian casualties this month took place on 14 August, when four civilians were injured and three armed actors killed in a car bombing at a market in Dar Saad, Aden. 

Sources: GardaWorld, N Gulf

In July 2021 in Yemen there were seven incidents of explosive weapon use recorded, causing 150 casualties, 77% (115) of whom were civilians. 91 civilians were killed and 24 were injured. There were 35 armed-actor casualties. The number of civilian casualties in July has increased by 28% compared to June. These civilian casualties were attributed to the use of ground launched weapons, air launched weapons and directly emplaced weapons, specifically shelling, landmines, a missile and an air strike. All incidents that caused civilian casualties took place in populated areas.

The worst incident of explosive weapon use for civilian casualties in July caused 77% of the total civilian casualties in the month. On 3 July, Saudi shelling in Saada reportedly killed 12 civilians and injured as many as 80 others, as reported by Yemen’s Al-Masira news network. Saudi Arabia was responsible for three of the eight incidents of explosive weapon use in Yemen in July. Houthi rebels were responsible for 21 civilian casualties through the use of landmines and shelling. July has seen the highest level of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons in Yemen this year so far. Sources: ABNA 24, Islam Times.

In June 2021, there were five incidents of explosive weapon use recorded in Yemen, 2 fewer than in May, but more than triple the number of civilian casualties, with 83 civilian casualties recorded compared to 26 in May. These casualties were attributed to the use of ground-launched weapons, directly emplaced weapons (IEDs), as well as other incidents involving a combination of different explosive weapon types. Houthi rebels were responsible for three of the five incidents and 83% (69) of the civilian casualties. All incidents of explosive weapon use occurred in populated areas. The worst incident took place on 10 June, when Iran-backed Houthis launched two ballistic missiles and two drones rigged with explosives into residential areas and a marketplace in Marib city centre, killing eight civilians and injuring 27. June has seen the highest level of civilian casualties from the use of explosive weapons in Yemen this year so far. Sources: Arab News, Reuters, AP.

In Yemen there were seven incidents of explosive weapon use, up from four in April. All recorded casualties were civilians (26), seven were reported to be children and 13 of the casualties were fatal. Five of the recorded events involved the use of ground-launch weapons, four resulted from shelling by Saudi Arabian forces, all in populated areas and resulting in 14 civilian casualties in total. On 5 May, three civilians were killed and four wounded by shelling from Saudi forces on a village in Saada, north-western Yemen. Source: Shia Waves