The Dhamar Airstrike took place on 1 September 2019[3] when Saudi led military coalition aircraft targeted a college building in Dhamar, Yemen that was used as a detention facility by the Houthis.[1] According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Yemen, the airstrike killed dozens of detainees.[4]

Dhamar airstrike
Part of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen and the Yemeni Civil War
LocationDhamar, Yemen
Date1 September 2019 (2019-09-01)
TargetHouthis
Attack type
Airstrike
Deaths100+[1]
Injured40[2] (Acc. to Red Cross)
Perpetrators Saudi Arabia led coalition

Airstrike

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According to the ICRC, the Saudi-led coalition aircraft carried out an airstrike on a multistory building that served as a detention facility by the Houthis. Of the 170 persons detained at the building, 40 were treated by injuries and the rest were presumed killed.[5] Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki Al-Maliki denied targeting civilians and said the airstrike was aimed at a legitimate military target. A former detainee told the Associated Press that the Houthis were repairing weapons in and close to the detention center. Several other detainees said via social media that the center had been the target of airstrikes before. It was consistent with the Houthi practice of using human shields near detention facilities. Local residents said some of those detained were arrested for being critical of the Houthis.[6]

Aftermath

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The Houthis released 290 detainees as part of a peace initiative of the United Nations (UN), 42 of which were survivors of the airstrike.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Red Cross says more than 100 people killed in airstrike on Yemen prison". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Red Cross confirms Saudi coalition bombed detention facility in Yemen, over 100 'presumed killed'". The Washington Post. 2 September 2019.
  3. ^ Nehme, Dahlia; Ghantous, Ghaida (1 September 2019). Goodman, David (ed.). "Red Cross says more than 100 killed in attack on Yemen prison". Reuters. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Saudi-UAE-led coalition bombs Yemen prison, 'kills 60'". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ Raghavan, Sudarsan (2 September 2019). "Red Cross confirms Saudi coalition bombed detention facility in Yemen, over 100 'presumed killed'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  6. ^ Al-Haj, Ahmed; Magdy, Sami (2 September 2019). "Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen rebel-run prison kill over 100". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Yemeni rebels release hundreds of detainees". BBC News. 30 September 2019.