Born to be torn: A generation raised under Houthi rule in Yemen

What the report says

An Al Jazeera opinion article published on 6 November 2026 argues that children growing up under Houthi control in Yemen are bearing the long-term cost of the war, including recruitment into armed activity, disrupted schooling and psychological harm. The piece says schools and summer camps have been used for indoctrination and military training, citing previous findings by the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen, the US Department of Labor and, more generally, UNICEF’s concerns about the effects of prolonged conflict on children.

The author says the issue is not confined to Yemen’s interior. The article points to recent attacks in Aden, Hadramout, Shabwa and Saudi Arabia as evidence that the Houthis’ capabilities continue to threaten civilians, transport hubs and security sites. It references reported strikes on Maashiq Palace and Aden airport in October, an attack on Al-Rayyan International Airport in Mukalla, a missile strike on a security forces training camp in Shabwa that caused heavy casualties, and an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The essay argues that diplomacy has not been enough to restrain the group and calls for firmer international action, including tighter controls on weapons and financing, stronger civilian protection and consequences for abuses. It also notes that the Houthis were designated a terrorist organisation by Yemen’s National Defence Council in 2022 and by the United States in 2025. More broadly, the article says protecting Yemen’s next generation requires education, psychosocial support and reintegration efforts for children affected by conflict.