Barran Press
A human rights organization is demanding an immediate international investigation into a Houthi weapons depot explosion that reportedly killed and injured over 100 people and destroyed more than 10 homes in the Yemeni capital. The blast, which occurred on Thursday, has been shrouded in secrecy by Houthi authorities, who quickly imposed a security cordon around the site.
The American Center for Justice (ACJ), based in Michigan, USA, issued a statement on Friday, May 23, 2025, expressing "grave concern" over the "violent" explosion. The center is pressing for an "urgent and independent international inquiry" to uncover the circumstances surrounding the blast at the Houthi arms depot, located in an underground facility nestled between the "Khashm al-Bakra" and "Sarf" areas, east of Sana'a.
According to the ACJ, Houthi forces swiftly established a tight security perimeter around the explosion site, extending from the Al-Malika area in Bani Hushaish to Zayed Hospital. Reports indicate that media and relief teams were barred from entering the area, while armed personnel from the Houthi security and intelligence services were deployed en masse. This immediate and extensive lockdown has fueled suspicions of a deliberate attempt by the Houthis to conceal the true scale of the disaster and its devastating impact on the civilian population.
Deadly Arsenal and Mounting Toll Confirmed
Field sources in Sana'a informed the ACJ that the destroyed depot contained surface-to-air missiles and significant quantities of highly explosive materials, including sodium nitrate (NaNO₃), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), and the military-grade explosive C4.
The ACJ's sources indicate a grim toll, with at least 60 civilian deaths and injuries, including women and children. Most of the injured have been transported to hospitals, and dozens more are feared trapped under the rubble. The explosion also completely destroyed at least ten homes, a figure that the ACJ warns is not final.
The human rights center unequivocally stressed the imperative of holding all Houthi leaders accountable for storing weapons within residential areas. They also called for the immediate removal of all arms and explosives depots from civilian neighborhoods and demanded "genuine guarantees" to safeguard civilian lives from such "irresponsible practices."
Furthermore, the ACJ urged the Houthi group to grant immediate access to relief organizations and human rights advocates to the explosion site. This access, they argue, is critical for providing humanitarian assistance, documenting the extent of the violations, and ascertaining the fate of families believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
Local residents and sources in Houthi-controlled Sana'a had reported on Thursday that the severe explosions in the residential area of Khashm al-Bakra resulted in at least 100 fatalities and injuries, predominantly among women and children. Residents told "Bran Press" that the blasts ignited widespread terror, claiming entire families. Many of the injured, transported to Zayed, Military, and Republican hospitals, are said to be in critical condition.
The explosions, which were followed by thick plumes of smoke and continued for approximately two hours with projectiles flying, decimated numerous homes surrounding the depot. This destruction was visually confirmed by videos filmed by citizens, which captured the extensive damage and casualties caused by shrapnel impacting nearby residences and farms.