US, Israeli airstrikes on Yemen to be probed as war crimes: HRW
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Human Rights Watch is urging accountability after deadly US and Israeli airstrikes in Yemen devastated vital infrastructure, deepened the humanitarian crisis, and cut off millions from aid and medical access.
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Burned vehicles near Ras Issa port in Hodeidah, Yemen, following US strikes on April 17, 2025. Photo taken on April 18, 2025. (AFP via Getty Images)
US airstrikes on Yemen’s Ras Issa Port in Hodeidah on April 17, 2025, killed at least 84 civilians and severely damaged critical infrastructure, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported, calling for a war crimes investigation into the attack.
Ras Issa is a vital economic and humanitarian hub, handling nearly 70% of Yemen’s commercial imports and 80% of its humanitarian aid. The port was targeted as part of the Trump administration’s aggression against Yemen, launched in mid-March.
HRW, working with satellite imagery, local reports, and independent monitoring groups such as Airwars and the Yemen Data Project, confirmed the strike destroyed fuel storage tanks, port berths, and customs facilities. Victims included port workers, civil defense personnel, and truck drivers. More than 150 others were injured.
“The US government’s decision to strike Ras Issa Port, a critical entry point for aid in Yemen, while hundreds of workers were present demonstrates a callous disregard for civilians’ lives,” said Niku Jafarnia, HRW’s researcher for Yemen and Bahrain.
Civilian toll, fuel damage raise legal concerns
While the US Central Command claimed the target was “fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists,” HRW countered this argument, asserting that treating economic infrastructure as military targets undermines international law. Satellite images revealed oil slicks and visible environmental damage in the Red Sea, raising concerns about long-term harm to the region’s ecosystem and access to fuel.
“At a time when the majority of Yemenis don’t have adequate access to food and water, the attack’s impact on humanitarian aid could be enormous, particularly after the Trump administration's aid cutbacks,” Jafarnia added.
HRW noted there is no public evidence that the port was being used for military purposes. Even if it were, the scale of destruction and civilian deaths could render the attack disproportionate under international humanitarian law.
Sanaa airport targeted, Yemenis cut off from critical access
In a related development, HRW also condemned two Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, on May 6 and May 28, which destroyed all Yemenia Airways planes and shut down the only functioning international airport in Sanaa.
Attacks by Ansar Allah deliberately targeting Ben Gurion Airport in "Israel" may also violate international humanitarian law and should be investigated as potential war crimes, Human Rights Watch has stated. It is worth noting that Yemen is conducting operations against "Israel" in support of Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli genocide.
The May 6 strike occurred shortly after a warning from Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, but civilians, including UN personnel, were present at the time. Flights briefly resumed before a second unannounced strike on May 28 hit a plane that had just landed, carrying pilgrims and MSF staff.
“The Sanaa airport is a critical lifeline for Yemeni civilians, many of whom rely on the airport as their only means to access needed medical care,” said Jafarnia. “The Israeli military has now severed that lifeline.”
Israeli officials justified the strikes by alleging the airport was being used to transport weapons and personnel for Ansar Allah. However, HRW said there is no evidence to support that claim, warning that targeting civilian infrastructure violates the laws of war.
Satellite imagery and footage from Al-Masirah confirmed the destruction of at least seven aircraft and extensive damage to terminal facilities.
Pattern of impunity in US, Israeli attacks
Between March 15 and April 29, the US reportedly conducted over 1,000 airstrikes in Yemen. On April 28, a US airstrike hit a migrant detention center in Saada, killing scores, an incident HRW also called a potential war crime.
HRW also referenced the notorious 2013 US drone strike on a wedding party that killed 12 civilians, highlighting Washington’s ongoing failure to account for civilian casualties or provide reparations.
"The Israeli military has repeatedly carried out unlawful attacks on critical civilian infrastructure in Yemen, Gaza, and Lebanon with impunity,” said Jafarnia. “Countries still arming Israel risk being complicit in these brazen attacks and share responsibility for the grave harm to Yemeni and other civilians that has resulted.”
Read next: What the West needs to know about Yemen's Ansar Allah
