Houthis forcing children to fight in Yemen

Houthi coup rebels and their allies are forcing children to fight in the war in Yemen and many of them have been captured in action by the Saudi-led Arab coalition forces, the head of police and security in Marib province was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Brigadier Mohammed Al Mokhem said Houthis and their allies have also planted many mines randomly in various areas and that clearing them would take time.

Quoted by the Saudi Arabic language daily ‘Al Watan’, he said he had mobilised nearly 3,000 policemen and soldiers to maintain security in the central province.

“We have many prisoners of war now and most of them are from Houthi militia and the Republican Guards.

“They include many children, who have been forced by these rebels to fight in the war,” he said.

He said nearly 40 explosive experts are involved in a mine clearing operation in the province, nearly 120 east of the capital Sanaa.

“This operation is risky and it will need time.

“The rebels have planted many mines randomly in various areas including roads and farms. Four innocent people have been killed by a mine recently while the Red Crescent societies have been unable to retrieve some bodies because of the mines,” he said.

Mokhem said his forces have recently foiled an attempt by Iran to smuggle nearly 130,000 communication and spying systems to the rebels in Sanaa.

“The shipment was on its way to Sanaa. The systems were concealed in a way that it was very difficult to discover them. Iran is fully behind all these smuggling attempts.”

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