The Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, began by commemorating the international day against the use of child soldiers, also known as Red Hand Day, and condemning the forced conscription of children by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen. Colonel Al-Maliki provided updated information on the number of minors rescued from the Iranian-backed Houthi militia control by the Coalition forces, including rehabilitation of 81 children, who were recruited forcibly by the Houthi militias to fight and who continue to suffer emotional and psychological trauma. The Iranian-backed Houthi militias are also using non-Yemeni children in their campaign, which indicates the expansion of their threatening influence. The Coalition is working with the international community to stop all recruitment of children. The exploitation of children for war is a clear violation of the Law of Armed Conflict.  The Coalition unequivocally condemns the Iran-backed Houthi militias’ use of minors in their acts of aggression. The Coalition will continue to fight against their use and abuse of children.

Colonel Al-Maliki addressed the efforts by the Coalition under the YCHO to alleviate the pain of all Yemenis in the face of daily threats posed by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias to the humanitarian work on the ground. He, additionally, discussed three agreements between King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) and international organizations related to the efforts in Yemen; highlighting that they will be signed on Tuesday. The Spokesperson also emphasized the YCHO achievements in indiscriminately delivering aid to Yemenis, including:

• Over 544,000 beneficiaries of food and shelter aid since January 22nd.
• 6 governorates receiving humanitarian assistance, including 3 (Sana’a, Ma’rib and Ta’iz) under the partial control of the Iran-backed Houthi militias.
• Active use of a newly established air bridge, as well as, overland transport routes and ports to deliver aid to Yemen’s interior.

While the focus of the Coalition continues to be on increasing aid delivery to the Yemeni people, the Iranian-backed Houthi militias have fired a total of 95 ballistic missiles towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to date. The Coalition continues to respond to repeated attempts by the Houthi militias to infiltrate the Saudi border: operations have killed 6 Houthi militia commanders in recent days. The Coalition will not allow the aggression of the Iranian-backed Houthi militias to go unanswered.  Simultaneously, the Coalition continues to work alongside the Yemeni government towards a peaceful resolution and a stable, free Yemen.