Sanaa – Local and international heritage organizations have raised alarm over the increasing destruction and unauthorized excavations of archaeological sites in areas controlled by Houthi militias. 

Reports from multiple governorates—including Rima, Al-Bayda, Ibb, and parts of Sana’a—indicate a disturbing pattern of looting, vandalism, and illegal digging under the pretext of searching for “hidden treasures.”

In Rima Governorate, the General Authority for Antiquities condemned what it called a “blatant assault” on a historic site in the village of Al-Rabat, where individuals—allegedly including local officials and Houthi-affiliated figures—conducted unauthorized excavations that reached depths of two meters. The operation was halted only after warnings of structural collapse.

Similar incidents have been documented in Al-Bayda, where decorative elements and ancient doors of the famed Al-Amiriya Mosque and School were damaged. 

In Ibb, once the capital of the Himyarite and Sulayhid dynasties, nighttime raids have targeted ancient sites such as Al-Asibiya in Jabal Issam, resulting in the extraction of statues, gold coins, and other relics. Armed confrontations between site guards and looters have been reported, with some suspects apprehended.

In Sana’a’s Sanhan district, an entire pre-Islamic settlement in Jabal Al-Qana was reportedly destroyed by unregulated digging, erasing centuries-old stone architecture. 

Despite clear legal prohibitions against such acts, enforcement remains weak amid alleged complicity from Houthi leadership and local authorities.

Experts warn that Yemen’s cultural heritage is facing irreversible damage, urging international bodies to intervene and support efforts to protect the country’s historical identity.