Houthi rebels committing war crimes in port city, human rights minister says
The Houthi rebels are committing war crimes against civilians in the key port city of Hodeidah, Yemen’s government said, as fighting between government forces, backed by the Arab Coalition, and the insurgents intensified yesterday.
“In the past three years under Houthi rule, Hodeidah has continued to suffer a humanitarian catastrophe,” Mohammed Askar, Minister of Human Rights, told The National.
“Their war crimes and violations of human rights laws include the arrest of activists, journalists and anyone who holds an opinion against them. They have also planted land and seamines around the port of Hodeidah, which is a strategic harbour along the Red Sea coast.”
Yemeni forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen on behalf of the internationally recognised government of President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, launched an offensive on Hodeidah on Wednesday.
Their aim is to box the Houthis into the capital Sanaa, cut their supply lines and force them to the negotiating table.
Hodeidah’s port handles 80 per cent of essential goods going into Yemen. But the Iranbacked Houthis have used the port to smuggle weapons supplied by Tehran into Yemen and to profit from illegally sold humanitarian aid.
The coalition is confident that it can capture the port without major disruption to aid supplies.
Yesterday, Yemeni troops and allies seized Hodeidah airport from the rebels as UN special envoy Martin Griffiths arrived in rebel-held Sanaa for talks.
“We want this conflict to end,” Mr Askar said. “We have taken all means necessary to end this war in a peaceful manner but the Houthis have refused to co-operate. We were forced into this war.”
Several rounds of UN-brokered talks between the Iranbacked rebels and the government have failed.
The Houthis have repeatedly refused a proposal to hand over control of Hodeidah to the UN, while the government fears their grip on the port will cut off the only lifeline for millions of Yemenis facing starvation.
Mr Griffiths is due to present a peace plan to the Security Council next week.
Mr Askar said: “The rebels are using this port to collect illegal taxes and to receive ballistic missiles that have been used against Saudi Arabia.”
A UN report on Friday said that parts from five missiles fired at the kingdom by the Houthis were made in Iran.
“People are starving while the Houthis use the port to attack Riyadh. It needs to be a humanitarian port to help Yemen’s citizens,” he said.
“An intervention was imperative to end the suffering of the people.”
Minister says Houthis planted land and seamines around the port of Hodeidah