The Minister of Foreign Affairs in Sana’a Government, Jamal Amer, submitted on Wednesday an urgent and formal complaint to the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of the Security Council for May 2025, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretaries-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as to countries around the world and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, including human rights organizations and international media professionals.
The complaint accused the “Israeli entity” of committing serious acts of aggression and systematic attacks against the Republic of Yemen, targeting its vital civilian infrastructure on May 6, 2025. These attacks resulted in the widespread destruction of important national assets, which constitute flagrant violations of international law. The complaint called for urgent action to hold the aggressor accountable.
The complaint details the Israeli attacks that targeted vital civilian sites, including Sanaa International Airport, which was completely destroyed, including the passenger terminal and its facilities, and the burning of civilian aircraft. The attacks also included the port of Hodeida, a vital facility upon which 80% of the population relies to meet their needs, with the destruction of docks, cranes, and warehouses designated for humanitarian supplies, resulting in civilian casualties.
The complaint also noted the targeting of cement factories in Bajel and Amran, which suffered significant damage despite being civilian facilities essential for the country’s reconstruction. The power plants in Hizyaz and Thahban were also targeted, cutting off power to hundreds of thousands of civilians and health facilities.
The complaint asserted that these attacks targeted purely civilian objects with the aim of crippling Yemen’s resilience and exposing the Yemeni people to further suffering. It explained that there was no military justification for targeting these sites and described the destruction as indiscriminate and widespread.
The complaint relied on clear legal arguments confirming that the attacks constitute a violation of Yemeni sovereignty and the principles of territorial integrity, in accordance with Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. It also pointed to serious violations of international humanitarian law, including violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, as well as violations of the Geneva Conventions, their First Additional Protocol, and the Hague Regulations.
Regarding Sanaa International Airport, the complaint confirmed violations of international civil aviation agreements (the Chicago Convention and ICAO resolutions). Regarding the port of Hodeidah, it pointed to violations related to maritime activities agreements (the ISPS Code and the SUA Convention).
In his complaint, the Minister emphasized the lack of imperative military necessity behind these attacks and described the resulting damage as unjustified and indiscriminate destruction. He emphasized that these attacks exacerbate the massive humanitarian crisis in Yemen, a man-made crisis, and that the international community’s continued disregard for these violations encourages impunity.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the United Nations to clearly and explicitly condemn the hostile Israeli attacks and refer the Yemeni complaint to the Security Council in accordance with Article 99 of the Charter. He also called for the formation of an independent and impartial international commission of inquiry to investigate the facts and determine the responsibilities of the aggressors
