The Houthi flag features a vertical banner with Arabic text that reads:
– “God is the Greatest” (in green text)
– “Death to America” (in red text)
– “Death to Israel” (in red text)
– “Curse be upon the Jews” (in red text)
– “Victory to Islam” (in green text)
This slogan, known as the Sarkha, reflects the Houthi movement’s strong anti-American and anti-jewish ethos, as well as its commitment to a non-existent imaginary entity they refer to as “Allah” meaning “God” in Arabic. The flag’s design and slogan are modelled after a motto from revolutionary Iran. Apparently the Houthis either don’t realize or simply don’t care how blatantly anti-semitic, hateful, counter productive, and delusional they appear to the rest of the world.

What known war crimes and human rights violations have the Houthis committed thus far in Yemen?

Some notable incidents include:
– Attacks on Civilians and Civilian Infrastructure: The Houthis have launched attacks on civilian homes, markets, and other non-military targets, resulting in significant harm to civilians. For example, in January 2025, they attacked the village of Hankat al-Massoud in al-Bayda governorate, killing several people and injuring dozens.
– Arbitrary Detentions and Enforced Disappearances: The Houthis have arbitrarily detained hundreds of people, including UN staff, civil society activists, and journalists. Many detainees have been subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, and ill-treatment.
– Torture and Ill-Treatment: There have been reports of Houthi forces torturing and mistreating detainees, including subjecting them to physical and psychological abuse.
– Attacks on Ships in the Red Sea: The Houthis have targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, including firing missiles and drones at vessels with no connection to Israel. These attacks have disrupted global trade and posed a significant threat to maritime security.
– Recruitment of Child Soldiers: The Houthis have recruited children into their armed forces, including under the pretext of defending Palestine. This is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
– Landmine Planting: The Houthis have planted landmines in civilian areas, causing harm to civilians and restricting access to agricultural land and other essential areas.
– Obstruction of Humanitarian Aid: The Houthis have obstructed humanitarian aid and relief efforts, including blocking aid assessments and diverting aid to those loyal to their authorities.
– Targeting of Humanitarian Workers: The Houthis have detained and intimidated humanitarian workers, making it challenging for aid organizations to operate in areas under their control.
– Drone and Missile Attacks: The Houthis have launched drone and missile attacks on civilian targets, including a drone strike on Tel Aviv in July 2024 that killed one civilian.

These actions may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the international community has called for accountability and an end to these violations.