March 12th: Documented Massacres and War Crimes in the Record of the US-Saudi-Emirati Aggression Against Yemen
March 12th is not just another day in the memory of Yemenis. Over the years of aggression, it has become a new chapter in the record of crimes committed by the US-Saudi-Emirati coalition against civilians and their property in various Yemeni governorates.
On this day, during the successive years of aggression, martyrs and wounded fell, including women and children, as a result of airstrikes, missile and artillery shelling, and the use of internationally prohibited weapons. This reflects the scale of the humanitarian tragedy endured by the Yemeni people under the weight of war.
The documented facts of the crimes committed on this day reveal a recurring pattern of systematic targeting of residential neighborhoods, farms, roads, and civilian infrastructure, in flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law.
2016: Direct Targeting of Civilians and Farms
On March 12, 2016, the wife of Ali Ali Sand, his three children, and a relative were killed in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition targeting their vehicle on a public road in the Khawlan district of Sana’a Governorate.
The coalition also launched a series of airstrikes on the areas of Masoura, Al-Faradha, and Baran in the Nihm district, destroying the homes of the martyr Ahmed Abu Alhan and Sheikh Ahmed Ahmed Rabid, and damaging several neighboring houses.
The airstrikes extended to the Arhab district, where coalition aircraft targeted the mountains of Al-Sama’ and Farijah with three strikes, causing damage to sheep pastures.
In Aden Governorate, coalition aircraft targeted the local council building, several neighborhoods, and the Caltex roundabout in the Al-Mansoura district, setting the building ablaze. They also targeted the village of Talat, in the ‘Ubaidah area of the Yarim district in Ibb Governorate, with two airstrikes, damaging civilian homes.
The air force launched three raids on civilian farms in Qa’ al-Haqal in the Dhuran Anis district of Dhamar Governorate, and five raids on Jabal Hilan, the main road, and the al-Haqil area in the Sirwah district of Ma’rib Governorate.
2017: Targeting Vehicles, Bridges, and Markets
On March 12, 2017, four civilians were killed in an airstrike that targeted the vehicle of Hamid Ahmed al-Qash’ah in the al-Madarij area of the Nihm district.
Three civilians, including a woman, were killed, and two others were injured in an airstrike that targeted a vehicle they were traveling in in the Mahli area of the same district. This coincided with five raids on Jabal al-Manarah.
In Hajjah Governorate, a civilian was killed in two cluster bomb attacks that targeted a farm in the al-Jar area of the Abs district.
A civilian was also killed in two airstrikes that targeted the al-Qasbah Bridge in the Bani Sa’d district of al-Mahwit Governorate. Three civilians were injured in other airstrikes on the al-Karashah and Bab Risha bridges on the Hodeidah-Sana’a highway, which destroyed the bridges and disrupted traffic.
In the capital, Sana’a, airstrikes targeted the Guards School in the Al-Jaraf district, causing damage to nearby homes.
The raids extended to Lahj, Taiz, Hodeidah, and Sa’dah, where airstrikes targeted Al-Omari School, Khalid Camp, and Al-Khokha Camp, in addition to a series of raids on the districts of Baqim, Al-Dhaher, Kataf, and Majz in Sa’dah Governorate.
2018: Bombing of Civilian Homes in Sa’dah
On March 12, 2018, a woman and her two children were injured when an airstrike destroyed their home in the Razih district of Sa’dah Governorate. This coincided with Saudi missile and artillery shelling of various areas within the district.
Airstrikes also targeted the Takhya area in the Majz district, Wadi Al Abu Jabara and the Adhiq area, and the Al-Fara’ area in the Kataf district.
Six airstrikes were also carried out on the Al-Tala’a site in Najran.
The airstrikes extended to several governorates, with warplanes targeting the Al-Murshadiyah farm in the Zabid district of Hodeidah, five airstrikes on the Khabb wa ash-Sha’af district in Al-Jawf, airstrikes on Kahbub in Lahj, and six airstrikes on the Haradh and Midi districts in Hajjah.
2019: Intense Bombardment of Residential Areas in Hodeidah
On March 12, 2019, a man and a woman were wounded by mercenary gunfire in the Al-Jabaliyah area of the At-Tuhayta district in Hodeidah Governorate.
The Al-Fazah and Ad-Durayhimi districts, as well as Hodeidah city, witnessed intense bombardment with more than 45 Katyusha rockets and 241 artillery shells, in addition to heavy and medium weapons fire.
The mercenaries also targeted the Al-Ittihad Hotel, the July 7th residential area, the Mobile Roundabout, and Sana’a Street, resulting in a large fire in a commercial warehouse.
In the same context, the aggression’s warplanes launched five airstrikes on the Al-Mandalah area and one airstrike on the center of the Kushar district in Hajjah Governorate, in addition to four airstrikes on the Nihm district in Sana’a Governorate. The air force also launched a series of extensive raids on the districts of Kataf, Al-Buqa, Baqim, and Razih in Saada Governorate, and raids on the districts of Bart and Al-Matun in Al-Jawf Governorate.
2020: New Crimes and Targeting of Communications
On March 12, 2020, elements of the al-Qaeda-affiliated group committed a murder, killing a man, his wife, and their child after ambushing their vehicle in the Al-Dhahra area of Al-Qurayshiyah District in Al-Bayda Governorate.
The air force launched 15 raids on the city of Haradh and its customs office in Hajjah Governorate, ten raids on Sirwah District in Ma’rib Governorate, and seven raids on Khabb wa ash-Sha’af District in Al-Jawf Governorate.
The air force also targeted the communications networks in the districts of Saqayn and Haydan in Saada Governorate, resulting in a complete communications blackout.
In Al-Hudaydah Governorate, mercenaries targeted liaison officers’ checkpoints in Al-Khamri, Al-Salih, Kilo 16, and City Max. They also shelled Sana’a Street, the July 7th area, and residential neighborhoods with missiles and artillery.
2021: Intense Airstrikes on Ma’rib and Sa’dah
On March 12, 2021, the Saudi-led coalition launched two airstrikes on the Al-Fara’ area in the Kataf district and one airstrike on the Al-Dhaher district in Sa’dah Governorate.
It also launched 15 airstrikes on the Sirwah district and two airstrikes on the Madghal district in Ma’rib Governorate, causing widespread property damage.
In Al-Hudaydah Governorate, reconnaissance aircraft launched four airstrikes on the Al-Fazah area in the Al-Tuhayta district, coinciding with artillery shelling by mercenaries and movements of combat fortifications near 50th Street.