Yemen’s General Authority for Fisheries and the National Commission for Human Rights have strongly condemned a criminal attack carried out by an Eritrean naval patrol against Yemeni fishermen in Yemen’s territorial waters near the al-Sawabie Islands.
The two bodies said the incident constitutes war crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law that are not subject to the statute of limitations.
In separate statements issued, the authorities said an Eritrean naval unit opened heavy, direct fire on a Yemeni fishing boat carrying around 50 fishermen while they were working at sea, in a blatant assault on unarmed civilians.
The attack resulted in the killing of one fisherman, injuries to several others, and the abduction and detention of a number of them, who were forcibly taken to Eritrean territory.
The patrol also confiscated fishing boats and equipment, spreading fear among civilians operating within Yemen’s territorial waters.
The National Commission for Human Rights said the incident represents a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and a clear breach of the right to life, security, and physical integrity.
It stressed that the targeted fishermen were protected civilians not involved in any hostilities, making their deliberate targeting with live ammunition an international crime warranting prosecution.
For its part, the General Authority for Fisheries held the Eritrean authorities to be fully responsible, legally and humanely, for the crime and its consequences.
It described the incident as a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the livelihoods of Yemenis, noting that thousands of families depend on fishing as their sole source of income.
Both bodies called on the international community, particularly the UN and its relevant agencies, to issue a clear and explicit condemnation, breaking the silence over repeated Eritrean violations.
They urged the formation of an independent international investigation committee into the killings and abductions of Yemeni fishermen, the provision of protection for fishermen in Yemeni territorial waters, and fair compensation for the victims and their families.
Officials in Sana’a said they will continue to document and monitor all violations against Yemeni citizens, stressing that such crimes will not go unpunished and warning that international inaction encourages the continuation of these practices.
The latest incident comes amid a long series of reported attacks by Eritrean naval forces against Yemeni fishermen in the Red Sea. These have included gunfire, unlawful confiscation of boats and equipment, and arbitrary detention in camps described as lacking basic humanitarian conditions, which constitutes a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and fundamental human rights.
