The Al-Hudud Center for Archaeological Studies revealed that the US-Saudi aggression targeted 9,815 archaeological and historical sites and monuments over a period of eight years.
In a report on direct and indirect damage to cultural heritage and archaeological sites over eight years, the center stated that the number of targeted and damaged sites and monuments reached 9,815 archaeological and historical sites and monuments that were completely or partially destroyed, including 63 sites in three cities registered in the World Heritage List: Old Sana’a, Shibam, Hadramout and Zabid, and 9,752 sites, including 105 mosques and mausoleums, and nine museums.
The report stated that the aggression coalition and its affiliated groups of mercenaries and terrorist organizations, ISIS and al-Qaeda, targeted the archaeological and historical memory and identity of Yemen by deliberately bombing, destroying, looting and vandalizing archaeological sites in an attempt to obliterate and distort the Yemeni cultural heritage.
The center stressed that the systematic targeting of the aggression’s air strikes on archaeological sites cannot be random in light of the aggression countries’ possession of high-tech aircraft.
It condemned the targeting of property and cultural heritage, which international law classifies as a war crime as protected objects, as well as the actions that resulted from this crime, such as looting of artifacts and smuggling them out of Yemen.
The center indicated that it monitored, in its report issued at the end of the year 2022, the Yemeni artifacts offered and sold from March 2015 to August 2022, which numbered 2,610 pieces.
The Center called on the international community and the United Nations, led by the Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Interpol, to condemn these aggressive crimes against the local and international heritage in Yemen and to work to stop smuggling and return the smuggled artifacts abroad.
It also demanded the expulsion of the aggressor countries from UNESCO membership, as they have violated all relevant agreements and their crimes threaten the world heritage.
