Sana'a:A Saudi airstrike has targeted a sponge factory in the Al-Mahjar area of Shamlan, Sana'a, resulting in injuries to three workers and significant damage to the facility.
According to Yemen News Agency, the National Human Rights Authority has condemned the attack, labeling it a war crime and a dangerous escalation. The authority emphasized that the factory was a civilian facility with no military purpose, and the attack constitutes a serious violation of Article 52 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which protects civilian objects from attack.
The authority further argued that the strike is part of a systematic effort to dismantle Yemen's economy and civilian infrastructure, depriving citizens of their livelihoods. The attack on a factory employing numerous families is seen as violating the rights to work and development, and equates to collective punishment, which is prohibited under Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Moreover, the injury of workers and the targeting of a civilian facility in a populated area are said to breach the principles of distinction and proportionality, amounting to indiscriminate attacks banned under Article 51 of Additional Protocol I. The authority holds the Saudi side fully responsible, calling the perpetrators war criminals, and has urged the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to denounce the attack.
A field monitoring team will document the incident, assess the losses, and include the case in war crimes files to be submitted to the International Criminal Court.
