New reports revealed the spread of murders in Yemen due to spread of uncontrolled weapons, and attributed this matter to several reasons, including what dates back to before the current Yemeni crisis.

Before the Houthi coup in 2014 and the fighting that followed, there were more than 60 million weapons in the hands of civilians in Yemen. 

With the outbreak of war and the Houthi militia's control of the Yemeni army's weapons stores, weapons spread on a larger scale, which contributed to the spread of crimes, including murder.

Observers attributed the spread of arms in Yemen to several reasons, including the war, and attacks by outlaw gunmen. The observers also did not exclude the "Yemeni social heritage" and the Yemenis bragged about carrying arms on their shoulders on various occasions.

There are historically arms markets in northern Yemen, but recent reports indicate an increase in their number and arms trading by several groups, most notably the Houthi militia .

Observers warn that the arms trade in Yemen is no longer limited to light weapons, but also includes RPG launchers, portable missiles, modern sniper rifles, and even some types of artillery.

The spread of fear and insecurity in Yemen has prompted many stakeholders, including traders, to arm themselves for fear of looting.

Most of the merchants, with low security, also had to install surveillance cameras in their warehouses. During the current year, the cameras' lenses documented dozens of robberies in various Yemeni cities, with armed outlaws behind them.