The Yemeni Center Condemns the Houthi Bombardment of Marib and Calls for the Protection of Civilians

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) condemns in the strongest terms the continuous military escalation by the Houthi militia, and its accompanying targeting of civilians, residential neighborhoods, and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Marib governorate using ballistic missiles and drones.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) monitored a dangerous escalation that began on Friday, August 7, 2026, and peaked today, Saturday, August 15. The attacks continued from noon until midnight, striking populated areas, civilians, and IDPs, resulting in casualties and severe material losses.

According to field reports, the shelling has led to the death of several civilians and the injury of dozens with varying degrees of severity over the past days, with new injuries reported today. Among these victims are women, children, and the elderly, in addition to widespread damage to properties and civilian objects. Furthermore, health sources reported that members of a displaced family were killed and injured in the “Jaw Al-Naseem Camp,” while the Houthi missile strikes extended to the “Al-Meel Camp” and the neighborhoods of “Al-Sharika” and “Sailat Hai Al-Matar in the Al-Khair Complex.” The Center’s documentation teams are still working to independently verify the number of casualties and the extent of the damage caused by these attacks.

The Yemeni Center asserts that Marib governorate represents a haven for hundreds of thousands of families forced to flee during years of conflict and the forced displacement committed by the Houthi militia against millions of Yemenis, escaping violations and violence in Houthi-controlled areas. The targeting of refuge and displacement areas has exposed these families to new waves of displacement, which dangerously exacerbates the scale of the humanitarian tragedy.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) considers that the use of missile strikes on densely populated areas, and the deliberate targeting of civilian objects, constitutes a war crime that requires investigation, accountability, and the prevention of impunity.

Accordingly, the Yemeni Center calls on the Yemeni government, the local authority in Marib governorate, the Ministry of Health, and competent humanitarian bodies to urgently respond to the needs of the injured and affected, and to provide medical care, basic assistance, and protection for affected and displaced families, while enhancing emergency measures and humanitarian response within residential neighborhoods and IDP camps.

It also calls upon the United Nations, specialized international mechanisms, and human rights organizations to document these violations, and to take serious and deterrent steps to stop the arrogance of the Houthi militia, halt the attacks that endanger civilians, and ensure respect for the rules of international humanitarian law.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) also emphasizes the necessity of supporting the pathways of accountability, justice, and reparation, to ensure the protection of civilians and IDPs, hold those responsible for the violations accountable in accordance with local and international law, and work to prevent their recurrence.

The Yemeni Center renews its call to the Yemeni government, the Presidential Leadership Council, and the United Nations to protect civilians and IDPs in Marib governorate, and to take urgent measures to ensure their safety and limit the exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis. It affirms its continuation in monitoring and documenting violations and verifying information related to casualties and damages, in accordance with approved human rights standards.

Issued by: The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) Sunday, August 16, 2026 Marib – Republic of Yemen