ADEN/HODEIDA: The Government of Yemen has welcomed a resolution passed by the Arab Parliament that incriminates the continued recruitment of children by the Iran-allied Al Houthi militias in Yemen.

Ibtihaj Al Kamal, Yemen’s Social Affairs and Labour Minister, hailed a decision by the Arab Parliament to appeal to the Secretary-General of the United Nation, the Security Council, Speakers of regional and international parliaments, as well as the international organisations, to refer crimes committed by Al Houthis to the International Criminal Court and to hold to account their leaders and supporters from the Iranian regime, to face trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Yemeni government also called on the Security Council, the UN organisations and the international bodies concerned with the children’s rights, to adopt a resolution that incriminates all acts of abuse against children committed by Al Houthi militias and to classify their crimes against the children of Yemen as the worst form of child oppression.

The minister said that Al Houthi militias forced more than two million Yemeni children into exploitative labour and recruited more than 23,000 of them this year in a manner that violates international law and conventions for protection of children.

Quoted by the official Yemeni News Agency, the minister said that the militias deprived 4.5 million children from education, including 1.6 million who could not receive education after Al Houthis destroyed, either fully or partially, 23,000 schools in Yemen and used 1,500 schools as prisons or military barracks.

37 Al Houthis killed

A total of 37 fighters of the Iran-backed Al Houthi militias were killed in air strikes launched by the Saudi-led Arab coalition and in confrontations with the Giants Brigades, part of the joint Yemeni Resistance Forces, in an operation aimed at controlling the centre of Al Tahita district in Yemen.

Dozens of Al Houthi militia elements were captured by the forces in a large operation against their hideouts. Other militia fighters fled, leaving behind their weapons, equipment and dead bodies.

The coalition’s air strikes targeted several positions, gatherings and reinforcements belonging to Al Houthi militias in the areas around Zubaid district, inflicting heavy casualties among their ranks.

The joint Yemeni Resistance forces combed large areas of Al Tahita district, and cleared mines and IEDs laid by Al Houthis in a desperate attempt to delay the forces advancement.

Drone strike kills 7 Al Qaida members in Yemen

Yemeni tribal leaders say a suspected US drone strike has killed seven alleged Al Qaida militants as they were driving along a road in the country’s south.

The tribal leaders said on Friday that the operatives were killed when an unmanned aircraft targeted their vehicle in the southern province of Shabwa. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, as the Yemeni affiliate is known, has long been considered the global network’s most dangerous branch and has attempted to carry out attacks on the US mainland.

Yemen was plunged into civil war more than three years ago. Al-Qaida and a Daesh affiliate have exploited the chaos to expand their presence in the country.