UN General Assembly
2015

Despite all that, as the political transition process was drawing to a close and just when the constitution was supposed to be submitted to a popular referendum, the Houthis and Saleh staged a military and political coup d’état, occupying the capital, Sana’a, and wreaking havoc on hospitals, mosques, Quranic schools, homes and residences. Every form of weaponry was used, including arms from the Yemeni army. The tragedies in Aden, Taiz and Ad Dali could be characterized as genocide. Indeed, it was a desperate attempt to impose the Iranian model through the use of force. Political leaders and thousands of citizens either disappeared or were killed. The media were also affected. Thousands of children were forcibly conscripted, anti-personnel mines were planted and schools, public buildings and homes were converted into weapons storage facilities and barracks. Houthi militia threatened to spread to neighbouring countries, thereby endangering regional and international peace and security.