Amnesty International Demands War Crime Probe into US Strike on Yemen Detention Center
Amnesty International has formally requested an investigation into a US air strike in Yemen, alleging it constitutes a war crime and resulted in the deaths of at least 68 detainees.
The Saada Strike and the March-May Campaign
The rights group released a report on Tuesday detailing a strike on April 28, 2025, targeting a detention facility in Saada in northwestern Yemen. The facility had operated for years as part of a larger prison complex and had previously been visited by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations, who found no evidence the compound was being used for military purposes.
The organization argues that the Trump administration’s approach to air strikes in Yemen from March to May 2025 should have triggered alarm regarding the erosion of safeguards for civilians.
Casualty Analysis and Systemic Failures
Amnesty International’s investigation highlights a disturbing pattern of civilian harm, citing the Saada strike as one of the deadliest civilian incidents linked to a US strike in recent years. The report details the following casualty figures:
- 68 detainees killed in the Saada strike
- 47 detainees injured
- 156 people killed in a separate US strike on a school in Minab, Iran, including 120 children
The group asserts that the US failed to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm, a violation of international humanitarian law.
Erosion of Civilian Protection Protocols
The impact of these strikes extends beyond immediate casualties, creating a humanitarian crisis for survivors. Amnesty interviewed six Ethiopian men wounded in the attack, revealing that five were unable to work due to their injuries and relied on family support.
One survivor, identified as Jirata, 30, testified that he lost one leg and had a metal rod inserted in the other. He stated, “I have lost hope, and I have nothing left that keeps me going. The US government caused all this.”
Nadia Dar, director of Amnesty International USA, criticized the administration for systematically weakening safeguards while displaying a “dangerous disregard for the lives of civilians endangered by armed conflicts.”
Future Implications for US Military Oversight
With no public findings released by the US military a year after the incident, Amnesty is calling for a shift in accountability mechanisms. The organization is urging Washington to conduct prompt, transparent, and independent investigations into strikes in Yemen and Iran.
The report suggests that the next major development will likely involve increased pressure on the US Congress to enforce stricter oversight of military operations and mandate reparations for civilians harmed in these conflicts.