Iran-backed Houthis Accused of Recruiting Children in Summer Combat Camps

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani has accused the Iran-backed Houthi militia of systematically recruiting and training children for combat under the guise of summer camps. Alleged footage from the Houthi-controlled Amran Governorate shows minors in military attire undergoing training, which Eryani condemned as a severe violation of international human rights and child welfare laws. He described the initiative as a deceptive facade designed to instill violence and extremism in young minds, effectively turning them into fuel for the group's ongoing conflicts. Conversely, Houthi-controlled media reported that local officials inspected and praised these camps, framing the activities as essential for instilling Quranic culture and protecting youth from perceived Western ideological threats and soft war tactics. Human Rights Watch researcher Niku Jafarnia noted that while Houthi child recruitment has been documented since 2009, there has been a significant increase in such practices following the October 7 Hamas attacks. This development highlights continued exploitation of minors in Yemen's protracted conflict, drawing sharp criticism from international observers and Yemeni government officials alike.