MWE Correspondent
A deadly airstrike in northern Yemen has sparked international outrage after it reportedly killed at least 72 migrants and injured many more at a shelter facility.
The attack, which took place last week in the province of Saada, is being linked to U.S.-made weaponry, raising serious concerns about the legality and morality of its use in civilian areas.
Local authorities and independent weapons analysts have reported that remnants of a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb were found among the debris of the migrant center. The precision-guided munition, designed for military targets in open terrain, is said to have caused intense destruction when it detonated at the shelter housing over 150 people, most of them African migrants.
Images from the scene and witness accounts describe a devastating aftermath: bodies burned beyond recognition, scorched walls, and survivors suffering from severe internal and external burns. Rescue teams worked through the night to recover victims trapped under rubble, some of them young men and women who had been seeking safer futures.
Experts in arms investigations say the heat produced by the GBU-39’s explosion can reach up to 3,500°C, making it especially destructive when used in confined, populated spaces. While the bomb itself is not banned under international law, the context of its use is drawing heavy criticism. Analysts argue that deploying such weapons in a residential or humanitarian setting could amount to a violation of international humanitarian law.
“It’s not just the scale of destruction that’s shocking—it’s the nature of the injuries and the fact that these people were civilians, many of them migrants with no connection to the conflict,” said one independent investigator who visited the site.
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The U.S. has not yet officially commented on the allegations, though military officials have acknowledged they are reviewing reports of civilian casualties in the region. The strike is believed to be part of ongoing operations targeting Houthi forces, who control large areas of northern Yemen and have been engaged in cross-border hostilities with U.S. and allied forces in recent months.
The incident has reignited debate over foreign arms transfers and military campaigns in the region. Human rights organizations and international observers are calling for a thorough, independent investigation and immediate reassessment of airstrike protocols involving densely populated areas.
Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights has condemned the strike as a war crime, urging the international community to intervene. “We cannot keep turning a blind eye to the deaths of innocent civilians under the guise of counterterrorism,” a spokesperson said.
The United Nations has also expressed concern and called for accountability.
