January 14: A Date That Exposes the Systematic Targeting of Civilians in the War of Aggression on Yemen
January 14 stands as a telling milestone in the record of the U.S.–Saudi–Emirati aggression against Yemen. Over the years, this date has accumulated clear evidence of the systematic targeting of civilian objects—homes, markets, archaeological sites, and service facilities—reflecting a pattern that goes beyond conventional military operations to strike at the very foundations of daily civilian life.
2016: Homes, Markets, and Heritage Under Fire
On January 14, 2016, several governorates witnessed a wave of airstrikes targeting civilians’ homes and residential neighborhoods in Amran, Taiz, Sana’a, and Saada, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread destruction of property.
In Marib, the ancient Sirwah Temple and the city market were struck, extending the attack to cultural heritage alongside commercial activity. Airstrikes also hit areas near medical facilities and populated districts in the Capital Secretariat, causing significant damage to surrounding neighborhoods.
2017: Vehicles and Markets in the Line of Fire
On January 14, 2017, targeting expanded to include civilian vehicles and commercial shops in Taiz and Mocha, in addition to airstrikes on areas in Marib, Saada, Al-Hodeidah, and Lahj. Aerial attacks were accompanied by artillery and missile shelling on border areas, escalating the human and infrastructural cost of the war.
2018: Cluster Munitions and Border Shelling
This year saw continued bombardment in Saada, Amran, Taiz, and Marib, with civilians injured by unexploded ordnance remnants, alongside ongoing missile and artillery shelling of border districts, and airstrikes on civilians’ homes and farms.
2019: Expanding the Scope of Targeting
On January 14, 2019, shooting incidents were recorded in Taiz resulting in casualties, while shelling continued in Saada. In Al-Hodeidah, military fortifications were established within civilian surroundings, and airstrikes targeted districts in Hajjah governorate.
2020: Universities and Residential Areas Under Threat
In 2020, heavy artillery shelling in Al-Hodeidah struck residential neighborhoods and the vicinity of educational facilities. Saudi shelling also hit inhabited villages in Saada and Baqim, damaging civilians’ homes and farms.
2021: Airports and City Centers
On January 14, 2021, Sana’a International Airport was targeted by two airstrikes, while districts in Marib and Amran were subjected to additional attacks. In Al-Hodeidah, artillery shelling continued alongside the construction of military fortifications near civilian neighborhoods, and border shelling persisted on Razih district in Saada.
2022: Wide-Scale Aerial Escalation
The year 2022 witnessed a wave of airstrikes across the governorates of Al-Bayda, Marib, Al-Jawf, and Al-Hodeidah, with continued artillery and missile shelling of border districts in Saada and civilian casualties—underscoring the persistence of the escalation strategy.
2023: Wounds Reopened
On January 14, 2023, several civilians were injured by Saudi army fire in border areas of Saada governorate. The recurrence of such incidents on the same date reaffirmed that these violations are not isolated events, but part of a prolonged pattern.
Documented War Crimes
The cumulative record of January 14 across years of aggression reveals actions that go beyond so-called “collateral damage,” constituting a consistent pattern of targeting civilians, service infrastructure, and cultural heritage. The repeated strikes on homes, markets, airports, and archaeological sites place these incidents squarely within the framework of documented war crimes that warrant legal accountability—affirming that the war on Yemen has not only been waged on the battlefield, but against the Yemeni people’s right to life, security, and development.