Yemen: Airstrike in Sana’a kills at least 14 August 25

Event

On Friday, August 25, an airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people, including six children, destroying two buildings in the Faj Attan residential area of the capital Sana’a. The death toll is expected to rise as emergency services continue rescue operations.

Additionally, on August 24 thousands of Yemenis attended a rally in Sana’a for former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Houthi leadership, currently fighting the government in a civil war, has denounced Saleh as “evil” and have called for the suspension of all party activity.

Context

This attack is the latest in a series of Saudi-led coalition bombings that have hit schools, hospitals, markets, and private homes across Yemen. On August 23, at least 35 people were killed in an airstrike on a hotel near a Houthi-controlled checkpoint north of Sana'a.

Yemen is engaged in a complex and deadly conflict, ongoing since Houthi rebels entered into a civil war with the Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, in 2015. Two rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to resolve the conflict. Approximately 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and over 2.5 million are displaced. The devastating war has also sparked a cholera outbreak, which as affected approximately 350,000 people to date.

Advice

The security environment in Yemen remains complex. Due to poor security conditions, many Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.