SAM for Rights and Liberties stated that the renewed media discussion surrounding coalition airstrikes in Yemen has reopened one of the most pressing issues in the context of the conflict: the protection of civilians and adherence to the rules of international humanitarian law. This follows a qualitative analysis of thousands of documented incidents revealing recurring patterns of human harm and widespread destruction of civilian objects.
The organization explained that an analysis of documented data covering approximately 2,458 incidents over consecutive years shows a sustained temporal pattern of strikes and a high operational intensity. More than 1,320 incidents were recorded in a single year, followed by another year with over 1,100 incidents. This indicates that the operations were not isolated events but formed an extended pattern that raises serious questions about the adequacy of target verification procedures and measures to minimize civilian harm.
SAM highlighted that the geographic distribution of strikes shows a clear concentration in the governorates of Taiz, Saada, Sana’a, Al Hudaydah, and Hajjah—areas with high population densities or mixed urban environments—making the boundary between military targets and civilian spaces extremely fragile. The repeated strikes in the same areas have effectively turned some regions into what can be described as “geographies of persistent danger,” where civilians live under continuous threat.
According to the analysis, killings accounted for approximately 63% of total human harm, compared to around 30% for injuries, reflecting the severe direct impact of the strikes. The high fatality rate relative to injuries may indicate the use of high-explosive munitions or strikes occurring in populated areas, necessitating a careful assessment of compliance with the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution stipulated in international humanitarian law.
The organization further noted that the effects of the strikes were not limited to human losses but extended to the destruction of homes, vehicles, shops, farms, wells, roads, and bridges, as well as service and medical facilities. This has dismantled the living environment of thousands of families, undermined sources of income, and forced additional populations into displacement, amounting to a long-term developmental shock that surpasses direct damage.
A demographic analysis of the victims revealed a notable presence of young people, with future implications for the labor market, economic recovery, and social stability. Indirect effects include family disintegration, psychological distress, and erosion of local communities’ trust in legal protection systems.
Between 2015 and 2022, Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen totaled 25,054. These included 8,121 strikes targeting military sites, 7,055 strikes targeting non-military sites, and 9,878 strikes classified as having unknown targets, according to the Yemen Data Project. During this period, the coalition conducted military operations that resulted in significant civilian casualties. Available data indicate a total of 19,226 civilian victims, including 8,983 fatalities and 10,243 injured. These figures underscore the extensive humanitarian suffering caused by the conflict over the years.
SAM also documented 67 airstrikes targeting Yemeni army forces, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, raising further concerns about target accuracy and military coordination mechanisms, and prompting fundamental questions about measures to prevent operational errors and ensure accountability when they occur.
The organization stressed that direct media allegations regarding the involvement of the United Arab Emirates in some of these violations constitute extremely serious claims that cannot be addressed through media debate or political use. Instead, they should be referred to a professional process based on evidence and impartial investigation. SAM emphasized that the gravity of these allegations and the potential international legal responsibilities they entail necessitate an independent international commission with a clear legal mandate, advanced technical expertise, and the capacity to access and analyze information—including command chains, operational data, and digital evidence—to uncover the truth and determine accountability in accordance with international law standards.
SAM highlighted that the repetition of these patterns, combined with the absence of independent and transparent investigations, risks entrenching impunity and undermines victims’ rights to truth and justice. Accountability is not only a human rights requirement but also an essential condition for preventing the recurrence of violations and enhancing civilian protection.
The organization called on the United Nations and the Human Rights Council to establish an independent international investigative commission with a clear mandate and full authority, including technical experts capable of analyzing large databases, satellite imagery, digital and forensic evidence, and reviewing military operation records, as well as hearing from members of joint operations rooms and incident assessment committees that issued reports on some incidents, to ensure a credible reconstruction of events and assignment of responsibility in line with international standards.
SAM emphasized that any effective investigative process must be based on independence and competence, placing victims at the center by guaranteeing their right to reparation and non-repetition. The organization concluded by stressing that initiating a serious international investigation is no longer optional but a necessity dictated by the scale of violations and the breadth of their impact, affirming that the protection of civilians is a non-negotiable legal obligation, while justice for victims begins with professionally and impartially uncovering the truth.