Tribesmen Survive Houthi Landmine Blast While Searching for Missing Person in Al Jawf Desert

Tribesmen narrowly escaped a Houthi landmine explosion on Tuesday while searching for a missing individual in the Al Yatamah desert, near the Al Ajashir mountains in the Khab wa Ash Sha'af district of Al Jawf governorate. The blast damaged their vehicle but caused no casualties.

Tribal sources reported that a Houthi landmine detonated near a vehicle carrying members of the Al Hailah – Bani Nauf tribes. The group was engaged in a search operation for a lost person in the desert. The explosion completely disabled the vehicle, though all occupants were unharmed.

The sources further explained that tribal youth had been searching for several days for Abd al-Hafiz Muhammad al-Haj al-Khabani al-Amisi, who went missing along with another individual in the Al Jawf desert. Their vehicle had broken down en route from the Al Buqa region to the governorate, and they subsequently became separated in the desert.

Search teams located Abd al-Hafiz al-Amisi deceased on Tuesday in the Jibal Musandaq area, east of the Khab wa Ash Sha'af district. His companion was found alive.

This incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by civilians and travelers in the desert regions of Al Jawf governorate. These risks are primarily attributed to landmines and improvised explosive devices planted by Houthi militias across vast areas. Compounding the situation, citizens are often compelled to use alternative, unsafe routes due to the closure or obstruction of key roads connecting the governorates.