Sanaa, Yemen – On the evening of March 15, Ammar Mohammed * walked through the dynamic streets of a modern residential area in northern Sanaa.
The tall and thin man was notable and awaited a delicious meal at a parent.
The pleasant spring air, cooled after sunset, bore the rich aromas of the cooked homemade dishes while families were preparing to break their fast on the last day of Ramadan.
The two-story house of the relatives of his wife, Al-Zeinis *, was lit, as with the other well-filled houses on this street.
Even at a distance, he could see rows of windows shining warmly and felt the buzzing of the radiant life from behind, he passed, while people were chatting, the children pushed and the cutlery slammed.
He was impatiently awaiting Iftar and that his wife joined him later with his relatives for a post-IFTAR rally.
The street was lively – The speakers of the mosque echoed the quranic recitations, the children continued barefoot on the asphalt, and the clicking of the animated kitchens poured open doors.
He was a stone’s throw when the evening was separated.
A deafening roar broke the calm, a blinding orange flash transforming everything into a terrifying artificial dawn.
The ground was convulsed under it, and it was launched backwards, ears ringing while a shock of dust and debris swept it, spicy his skin. For a while, he couldn’t breathe.
When he looked up, Al-Zini’s house disappeared.
“Just like that, the house had collapsed in a bunch of twisted rubble and metal,” said the 30 -year -old official.
“The 12 al-Zeinis-mainly women and children-who were inside a peaceful evening from Ramadan, were killed,” he said in pain.
The Al-Zini family was killed in a raid ordered by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Trump said he wanted to target Houthi fighters and military facilities, to force them to stop attacking ships related to the Israeli in the Red Sea – which the Houthis say they are doing in response to the current blockade of Israel of the Gaza Strip.
The American raids continued and killed at least 53 people, while nearly 100 others were injured.
A neighborhood has broken
Mohammed, palms bleeding from the force with which he was launched on the asphalt, ran at home to see if there were survivors.
The house had been demolished, with the one right next to it.
He joined a crowd of neighbors while moving away from the bricks and reinforcement bars in search of people, to finally realize that no one was alive.
“I was swept away by emotions and thoughts, just like my environment. I was confused, frightened, grateful, alarmed, happy to have survived and devastated by what happened to this family.
“It was a family that broke quickly together, not a military base. The Americans made no distinction between a rebel and a child,” he told Tel Aviv Tribune.
He could not say anything more about his loved ones killed, saying only that he feared what was going to go afterwards.
He remembers very well the way the joyful sounds of the playing children were suddenly replaced by piercing cries while the panicked parents rushed into the streets, desperately looking for their young.
“ They were there there is just a minute ”
Like Khawla *, who was a few houses from the Al-Zeinis, casting the table and keeping an eye on his two sons, Usama of eight and Mustafa, six, playing outside.
They were waiting for their father’s return before the family could sit to break their fast.
With the trembling floor and the explosive sound of the raid, the 30 -year -old alarmed mother rushed outside, in search of all traces of her young.
“My children were there a few moments ago, and suddenly I couldn’t see them,” she said.
“I stood through the wreckage strewn on the other side of the street, the air was still full of dust. I was terrified.
“I shouted their names … Nothing,” she said, her crawling voice as she remembered this night.
“A neighbor spotted two small bodies thrown several meters near the strength of the explosion,” said Khawla, who asked to be referred by his first name only.
The neighbor picked them up in his arms and transported them to Khawla’s house, fearing that another attack could follow, and feeling that it would be safer to be inside.
“I pursued him, sobbing and trying to understand how bad my boys were.
Fortunately, boys’ injuries were limited to bruises and cuts on their entire bodies, and she was able to take care of herself.
“These are cups that are curable, but there are too deep scars and much more difficult to repair. My children have not been themselves since.”
The boys continue to ask if more bombs will fall into the neighborhood, she added.
“I hug them, avoid answering the question … But I cannot overcome the sight of the house whose children have not succeeded.”
* The names have changed for the safety of individuals
This article was published in collaboration with EGAB.
