Bombs hidden in bricks and flasks make crossing Yemen ever more perilous
Makeshift bombs hidden in bags, Thermos flasks and everyday objects are putting civilians in danger during the war in Yemen , a mine clearance charity has warned. The Halo Trust said explosives had been planted at roadsides as 300,000 people head for temporary shelters during fighting between the Yemeni government and the Houthis . The warning came as a Houthi strike killed five people at a…
A bomb disposal charity in the Middle East has highlighted the increasing dangers of improvised explosives hidden in everyday objects for civilians in Yemen during the ongoing civil war. The Halo Trust warns that explosives have been placed at roadsides as 300,000 people seek temporary shelter due to fighting between the Yemeni government and the Houthis.
The warning follows a Houthi strike that killed five people and injured 15 others at a medical center, marking one of the deadliest attacks on medics since the civil war resumed this summer. The risk of landmines further compounds the peril faced by civilians.
Andrew Moore, Halo Trust's Middle East director, explained that insurgents disguise bombs as rocks, bricks, and Thermos flasks, placing them in bags or under the soil. As the frontlines shift and civilians flee to unfamiliar areas, the risk of encountering hidden explosives grows with each passing day, according to Moore. Survey and mine clearance are crucial in helping protect lives, the charity emphasizes, as mines and unexploded bombs have been found on vital transport routes, particularly around the city of Taiz, currently under Houthi siege.
The attack on medical staff occurred in Lahj province in southern Yemen, according to government media, with 10 members of the medical staff among the casualties, three dead and seven wounded. The Yemeni Health Ministry called the attack a "serious crime," violating rules regarding the neutrality of medical centers. The conflict has reignited with heavy fighting in August, as the Houthis pushed toward the Red Sea, opening a new front in the regional war.
Iran reportedly supports the Houthis, and they are believed to possess their own weapons. The Houthis control Sanaa, while the Yemeni government operates from Aden, with both sides engaging in intense combat. The Saudi-led coalition has retaliated against the Houthis, intercepting drones and shooting down a ballistic missile in Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis have retaliated by allegedly launching drones and attacking military targets in Saudi Arabia.
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