The Yemeni Center Condemns the Houthi Escalation, the Targeting of Mokha, and the Attack on Al-Barh

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 the accompanying missile and drone attacks targeting the Port of Mokha, civilian facilities, residential neighborhoods, and populated areas. This is a dangerous development that threatens the lives and safety of civilians and exposes civilian objects and vital facilities to severe damage.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture has monitored, during the period from Sunday, August 9, 2026, to August 18, 2026, a continuous military escalation on the western coast. This included repeated shelling and attacks on the city of Mokha, its port, and civilian areas, resulting in damage to property and civilian facilities, as well as causing a state of fear and panic among residents and displaced persons due to the ongoing bombardment and military threats.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture also condemns in the strongest terms the Houthi shelling that targeted Al-Barh district and its surrounding areas, along with the extensive military mobilization and Houthi combat movements on the district’s fronts.

The Yemeni Center points out that what Al-Barh witnessed was a military mobilization, heavy shelling, and a violent attack, which was confronted by the Yemeni Armed Forces – the National Resistance, amidst growing fears of the expansion of clashes and the approach of military operations to populated areas.

The Yemeni Center considers that the intensive shelling, mobilization, and Houthi combat movements in Al-Barh district, coinciding with the escalation that targeted Mokha and its port, represent a highly dangerous development. This is likely to increase the probability of civilian casualties, cause property damage, displace families from their areas, and deepen the humanitarian crisis that civilians have been experiencing for years.

The Yemeni Center affirms that the protection of civilians and civilian objects must be an absolute priority amid any military escalation, and that the presence of residential areas and civilian facilities near frontlines imposes a strict obligation on all parties to adhere to the rules of international humanitarian law.

The Yemeni Center affirms that the historical and commercial Port of Mokha represents a vital and civilian facility. Its safety and continued operation are directly linked to the interests of the population and the commercial, economic, and humanitarian activities in the region. Throughout the years of war, it has remained a lifeline and a vital space for thousands of families, civilians, and displaced persons.

The Yemeni Center warns that the continued targeting of the port, civilian facilities, and residential neighborhoods threatens the livelihoods of civilians and fishermen, multiplies their humanitarian suffering, and exposes thousands of families, including the displaced, to new risks that cannot be justified by any military considerations.

The Yemeni Center also condemns the attacks and assaults that threaten the security and safety of maritime navigation, commercial ships, and oil and goods tankers in the Red Sea. This maritime corridor holds vital importance for international trade and the movement of supplies, and these attacks pose risks to the lives of ship crews and civilians, in addition to disrupting trade and humanitarian aid.

The Yemeni Center considers that the continuous launching of missiles and drones toward populated areas and the deliberate targeting of civilian objects and facilities may constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes. This necessitates conducting independent, impartial, and transparent investigations, identifying those responsible for these violations, and holding them accountable.

The Yemeni Center calls on the Yemeni government, local authorities, and competent humanitarian bodies to urgently respond to the needs of the injured, affected, and displaced persons. It calls for providing medical care, basic assistance, and protection for affected families, and for enhancing emergency procedures and humanitarian response in Mokha, Al-Barh, and the areas affected by the escalation.

The Yemeni Center also calls on the United Nations and the UN Security Council to take urgent action to stop the military escalation, take effective measures to protect civilians, monitor military movements on the western coast, prevent the expansion of clashes, and ensure respect for the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The Yemeni Center stresses the need to ensure the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea, protect commercial and civilian ships and their crews, and hold accountable those responsible for any acts that threaten the lives of civilians or endanger trade and humanitarian supplies.

The Yemeni Center affirms that the protection of civilians is not a political choice nor a divisible commitment, but rather a legal and humanitarian duty incumbent upon all parties to the conflict. It stresses that targeting civilians and civilian objects or exposing them to danger should not pass without investigation or accountability, and the Houthi militia bears the consequences of these violations.

Furthermore, the Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture affirms its continuation in monitoring and documenting violations committed against civilians in Yemen, collecting related testimonies, information, and evidence, and working to deliver them to the competent national and international authorities. This contributes to achieving justice, redressing victims, and preventing impunity.

Issued by: The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | Yemen – Marib