Saada:The National Human Rights Commission has condemned Saudi airstrikes that deliberately targeted telecommunications networks in the Al-Safra and Al-Salem districts, resulting in the destruction of these networks in Saada province.
According to Yemen News Agency, the commission's statement described the attacks as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, specifically citing Article 52 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits attacks on civilian objects, and Article 54, which prohibits the destruction of items essential to civilian survival.
The statement emphasized that telecommunications networks are crucial for civilian life, providing necessary health, humanitarian, educational services, and family communication. The commission argued that the attacks offer no military advantage and are intended to impose collective punishment by isolating the province.
The commission highlighted that this incident is part of a broader escalation, with over 1,576 airstrikes and missile attacks on Yemeni provinces in recent days, causing civilian casualties, including women and children.
Holding Saudi Arabia fully responsible, the Human Rights Commission called on the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression to condemn the attack. It also urged the International Telecommunication Union to intervene and called on human rights organizations and media outlets to raise awareness about the situation in Al-Safra and Al-Salem, asserting that international silence has emboldened further attacks on essential infrastructure in Yemen.
