Saudi Project “Masam” clears Houthi death mines in Yemen

Islam Mohamed

The Saudi project for demining in Yemen (Masam) on Saturday announced its success in demining of improvised explosive devices in the liberated areas of Yemen. This announcement caused a strong hit to the Iranian-backed Houthi militias, which planted a large number of these bombs in populated areas, without giving any attention to the International organizations warnings.

The Masam project, which was launched in Yemen in June this year, succeeded in removing more than 16,000 mines of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices planted by the militias, most of them made in Iran. Three of the members of the project were killed during the mission.

The project includes 41 teams inside Yemen, 9 teams of them are specialized in explosive devices disposal. It aims at eliminating those fatal bombs traps from Yemen’s territory.

The project also includes 32 Yemeni teams within the Yemeni National Demining Program, equipped with equipment, tools, armor, logistical and medical support.

Journalist Osama al-Hitimi, an expert on Iran issues, said that despite the efforts of the Arab Coalition and international agencies in the removal of bombs and demining in Yemen, reaching the safe limit is not an easy issue, it takes a long time and huge and appropriate conditions which is not available in Yemen till now, and therefore the problem of mine is likely to remain there as long as the situation in Yemen remains the same, however all current efforts only decrease the impact of the disaster.

He told al-Marjie that the Houthis agree with other Iranian arms in the region to spread chaos and unrest anywhere they go. These millions of landmines planted by Houthis in the territory of Yemen – despite the violation of international laws and conventions – not only used by them against their enemies, as is common in all wars, but also they use them to spread terror and panic in the hearts of civilians, they want people to leave residential areas so they can occupy them.

“There are other reasons that may have prompted the Houthis to insist on this crime, one of them is the desire of these militias to double the effects of the war in Yemen to draw international attention to what is happening there, which will naturally lead to international pressure on the concerned parties in Yemen,” he said.

He added that Houthis think that this will benefit them and will make them be recognized, which will ensure them achievement of even a minimum of political gains.