The Sam Organization for Rights and Liberties called on Sunday for an independent international investigation into the devastating explosion in Sana'a's Fawrah neighborhood, Yemen.
In a statement released to Barran Press, Sam emphasized the conflicting accounts surrounding responsibility for the tragedy. Noting the U.S. military's formal denial of involvement, the organization urged the United Nations to establish a neutral and fully empowered investigative committee.
Sam stressed the necessity of granting the committee unrestricted access to the blast site to gather evidence and witness testimonies, ensuring accountability for those responsible, regardless of affiliation. The organization condemned the explosion, which resulted in numerous civilian deaths, and reiterated the legal and moral imperative to protect civilians during armed conflict.
Furthermore, Sam called for transparent and independent measures to secure justice for the victims, free from political influence, to prevent future violations.
The call followed the April 24, 2025, claim by the U.S. military that the explosion near a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sana'a was caused by a Houthi-fired missile, not a U.S. airstrike. A U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson stated that while the reported damage was likely real, it was not the result of a U.S. attack, noting the closest U.S. strike was over five kilometers away that evening, according to Reuters.
Earlier, on Sunday, the Houthi-run Ministry of Health reported 42 casualties from the Fawrah market explosion, attributing it to a U.S. airstrike. This claim contradicts social media videos appearing to show a failed Houthi missile launch landing in the same area, coinciding with U.S. air raids on Houthi positions.

Local sources also reported the arrest of approximately 30 individuals for filming the incident, most held at a police station in the capital. The Yemeni government’s information minister, Moammar al-Iryani, accused the Iran-backed Houthis of deliberately targeting civilians to incite public anger against ongoing military operations.

Since March 15, 2025, the U.S. has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Houthi targets, including weapons caches, storage facilities, and command centers, in Houthi-controlled areas, resulting in over 370 deaths and 427 injuries.