Entesaf Condemns Saudi Escalation and Attacks on Civilians and Civilian Infrastructure in Several Yemeni Governorates

On Sep 21, 2026

The Entesaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights strongly condemns the ongoing Saudi military escalation in several Yemeni governorates, including airstrikes, missile attacks, and artillery shelling targeting Saada, Al-Jawf, and Taiz. The attacks have reportedly targeted populated areas, civilian facilities, and civilian objects, in an escalation that threatens the lives of civilians and further aggravates their humanitarian suffering.

In Al-Jawf Governorate, Saudi airstrikes reportedly targeted several telecommunications towers and civilian facilities, in addition to other locations in the governorate, killing four workers and injuring three others. This constitutes another reported violation affecting civilians and workers and exposing their lives to danger.

Populated areas in Saada Governorate were also subjected to intensive missile and artillery shelling. More than 135 missiles and artillery shells reportedly targeted villages and residential areas over a period of 12 hours, with the shelling continuing. This coincided with airstrikes targeting areas in Taiz Governorate.

This escalation further exacerbates the humanitarian harm borne by civilians, exposing families and residents to fear and direct danger, threatening their safety and security, damaging property and civilian facilities, and disrupting essential services. It also deepens the humanitarian suffering and threatens the stability of local communities, particularly women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

Entesaf emphasizes that the continued targeting of residential areas, civilian facilities, and telecommunications towers, and the resulting casualties, constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law, particularly the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives.

The organization holds those responsible for these attacks legally accountable for acts that constitute violations of international humanitarian law, including the killing and injury of civilians and damage to civilian objects. It calls for independent, transparent, and effective investigations into these violations, the identification and prosecution of those responsible in accordance with the law, and the guarantee of victims’ and their families’ rights to remedy and reparation, in order to ensure accountability and prevent the recurrence of such violations.

Issued by the Entesaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights

Sana’a – September 21, 2026