Human Rights Watch accused the united states of committing a war crime in targeting air strikes, Ras Issa Port in the Yemeni city of Hadida on April 17, 2025.
The organization said that this attack caused severe damage to the port’s infrastructure, and called for an investigation as a war crime.
The United States bombed the port of Ras Issa, which is one of 3 ports in the city of Hodeidah, where about 70% of Yemen’s commercial imports and 80% of humanitarian aid. Irwers Research was attributed to the bombing that killed 84 civilians and wounded more than 150.
According to Human Rights Watch, the raids on the port while hundreds of workers are showing “flagrant disregard for civilians.” She added that while most Yemenis do not get enough food and water, “the effect of raids on humanitarian aid may be disastrous, especially after reducing aid by the Trump administration.”
The organization said – based on satellite images and other sources – that the raids destroyed the fuel tanks and large parts of the port’s infrastructure, and that many sidewalks, the customs area, and the unloading facilities of cargo were severely damaged or destroyed.
“Erwers” identified 84 civilians who were killed during the raids, by analyzing leaflets on social media platforms, including 49 who were working in the port, truck drivers, and two elements of civil defense. She said that others may be members of workers’ families. 3 people were identified as children.
On April 17, the US Central Command said – in a statement – that the raids targeted fuel stores to deprive the Houthis of “illegal revenues”.
The United Nations Secretary -General expressed concern “about the reports that talk about severe damage to the infrastructure of the port, as well as possible reports of oil leakage in the Red Sea.”
A picture of an industrial moon, which was taken on the morning of April 18, showed long lines that appear to be leaks, extending from the location of the raids inside the sea, according to the organization’s statement.
The organization reminded that international humanitarian law prohibits deliberate, random, and non -commensurate raids on civilians and civilian notables, noting that any raid that does not target a specific military target is a random raid.
The United States called for an investigation of credibility and impartiality in these assumed violations of the laws of war, and to provide compensation, or immediate financial gifts to the affected civilians.
