Al-Jawf, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : An airstrike struck a prison in Al-Jawf province, northern Yemen, on September 8, resulting in multiple casualties, according to reports. The Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV attributed the attack to the Saudi-led military coalition.
The assault occurred on Monday at a facility located in the provincial capital, Al-Hazm. Reports indicate that women and children were among those affected. The prison director stated that 35 inmates and a woman visiting her husband remain trapped under the debris.
Footage aired by Al-Masirah revealed extensive damage to the prison, with rescue workers searching for survivors in the rubble. The Xinhua news agency noted that there was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia regarding the incident.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree took to social media, asserting that the Saudi military operations in Yemen would face repercussions. He accused the coalition of conducting airstrikes, surveillance flights, and supplying weapons to Yemeni government forces.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since late 2014, when Houthi fighters seized control of the capital, Sana’a, and large parts of northern Yemen. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
A UN-brokered ceasefire was implemented in April 2022 but expired six months later without formal extension, although a fragile and informal truce had largely held until recent escalations.
In July, the Houthi group announced a ban on Saudi-linked maritime vessels and claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi oil tankers and facilities.
Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, described recent Houthi attacks on various fronts as “extremely concerning developments” that could further escalate the conflict.
In a statement released on X, Grundberg expressed deep concern over reports of civilian casualties, family displacements, and damage to civilian infrastructure. He warned that a resurgence of large-scale fighting would primarily impact ordinary citizens and complicate the already challenging path to a political resolution.
He urged all parties to “stop all forms of fighting and violence,” exercise maximum restraint, and utilize existing dialogue mechanisms, including the UN Military Coordination Committee, to prevent further escalation. Grundberg committed to maintaining direct contact with all parties to reduce current tensions and keep communication channels open, urging regional and international stakeholders to use their influence to calm the situation.
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