Al Bayda: The Houthis release three leaders accused of bombing homes in the Al-Hofra neighborhood in Rada'a.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia released three of its security leaders accused of overseeing the bombing of homes in the Al-Hofrah neighborhood of Rada'a, Al Bayda Governorate, central Yemen, during Ramadan last year.

On March 19, 2024, Houthi militias blew up a number of homes with their residents inside in Rada'a, killing 16 civilians, including women and children, and wounding several others. This followed a Houthi military campaign during the month of Ramadan.

Local sources reported that the Houthis' release of Houthi security leaders accused of bombing homes in the Al-Hufra neighborhood of Rada'a, a year after the attack, sparked anger among the victims' families and widespread condemnation among the population.

Sources revealed to Yemen Youth Net the names of the three Houthi leaders released by the Houthi militias, saying, "The release decision came under direct orders from the office of the group's leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi."

The sources said, "Among the released Houthi leaders is Mohammed Saleh Al-Awkabi, known by the nickname "Abu Hussein Al-Harman," who was the commander of the Central Security Forces in Al-Bayda Governorate and the director of investigations in the Rada'a districts. He was also the primary perpetrator of a murder committed by his son-in-law."

In addition to Houthi leader Abu Saleh Saran, who was the security director of the Rada'a districts, and Majli al-Jawfi, previously appointed security director of the Wald Rabi'a district, according to sources from Yemen Youth Net, these three leaders were operating in Al Bayda and are accused of numerous violations against the people of Al Bayda.

Provoking the people of Al-Bayda

The release order came on Monday, Ramadan 9, nearly a year after the bombing of homes in the Al-Hofrah neighborhood in Rada'a, which claimed the lives of civilians. The city's residents viewed the incident as a challenge and provocation to the families of the victims, and a message of disdain for the people of Al-Bayda Governorate in general.

Residents of Rada'a districts, speaking to Yemen Youth Net, expressed their condemnation of the move, noting that they had been anticipating the implementation of the group's promises to arrest all those accused of the crime and bring them to a fair trial.

Residents said they were surprised by the Houthi militia's release of the three suspects "without any legal proceedings." The Houthi militia had arrested them after bombing homes in the Al-Hufra neighborhood of Rada'a.

The accused include Houthi official Abu Hussein al-Arabji, the former director of police in Al Bayda Governorate, along with three released Houthi leaders.

Houthi activists on social media circulated photos of the released detainees hosted by Abu Hussein al-Arabji, the main suspect in the crime, amid congratulations for their release. The people of Rada'a considered this a "provocation and disregard for the blood of the people by the Houthis."

The story of the bombing of the houses in Al-Hafra neighborhood

Houthi militias blew up the home of the al-Zayla'i family, destroying adjacent homes and killing approximately 16 civilians, including women and children. The crime sparked widespread anger among Yemenis at the time.

In the details of the crime, which began with the murder of citizen Saif Ibrahim al-Zayla'i by the son-in-law of Houthi leader Abu Hussein al-Harman al-Awkabi—one of those released—for no fault of his own, his family attempted to seek justice from the Houthi authorities, but to no avail.

On Monday, March 18, 2024, Abdullah Ibrahim al-Zayla'i saw his brother's killer atop a Houthi military vehicle, so he shot and killed him and another person beside him. Following the incident, a security force headed to the al-Hofrah neighborhood in Rada'a to arrest al-Zayla'i, but he had already fled the city.

Houthi militia forces surrounded his family's home until the morning of the following day, the seventh of Ramadan, corresponding to March 19, 2024. A Houthi force blew up Al-Zaylai's house. The bombing of the house led to the destruction of adjacent houses, such as the homes of Al-Naqous, Al-Yarimi, and Al-Majahar. Sixteen civilians were killed and others were injured, including women and children.

Following the crime, the Houthi militia admitted to it, deeming it an "individual mistake." They formed an investigative committee composed of several of their leaders and dismissed Houthi officials and supervisors in Al Bayda. However, human rights activists considered it an extension of the Houthis' systematic bombing of their opponents' homes.

Since the Houthis seized control of Sana'a and a number of other governorates, human rights organizations have documented the Houthi militias' bombing of approximately 900 homes of government leaders, military and security personnel, politicians, media professionals, sheikhs, and citizens across 16 Yemeni governorates.