Yemeni Armed Forces deny Houthi claims of prisoner deaths in Al-Jawf

The Yemeni Armed Forces have denied Houthi claims regarding the death of several military prisoners in a detention site located in the Al-Hazm district of Al-Jawf governorate. Colonel Majed Abdullah Al-Nazili, the official spokesperson for the Armed Forces, described the Houthi allegations as “devoid of truth and misleading.”

Al-Nazili stated that no military operations were conducted within Al-Hazm city, noting that the military sites in the area remain under Houthi control. He emphasized that under international law, the Houthi group is legally and morally responsible for the safety of all detainees and is obligated to inform the International Committee of the Red Cross of detention locations to ensure they are protected from targeting.

The spokesperson accused the Houthi group of attempting to mislead public opinion and evade responsibility for the safety of captives. He further suggested these claims were an attempt to divert attention from a Houthi strike on a market in Lahj governorate, which he characterized as a violation of international humanitarian law regarding protected civilian objects.