The Saudi-led “Masam” demining initiative successfully cleared explosive remnants planted by the Iran-backed Houthis in Al-Khokha district, Hodeidah governorate, western Yemen. The operation was triggered by a child’s discovery of a suspicious object while fetching water.

Masam’s Engineering Team 26, led by Osami Hamed, conducted the clearance in Al-Suwaidiya and Al-Dabouliyah villages, east of Al-Khokha. The team also held an awareness campaign for 67 residents, including children, displaced persons, and the elderly, teaching them how to identify and safely respond to landmines and explosives.
Hamed commended the child’s alertness, which averted a potential tragedy, and stressed the risks faced by children and shepherds in unsecured areas. He underscored the importance of community education in Hodeidah, a heavily mined region.
UN estimates indicate that Houthis have planted around two million landmines across their controlled areas, causing over 20,000 civilian casualties, mostly women and children. Rights groups have labeled Yemen the world’s largest minefield and urged the Houthis to share minefield maps with demining teams.