This morning (10 April), the Project Masam Landmine Clearance Project in Yemen has carried out a large-scale bulk demolition operation, destroying 4,925 landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other explosive remnants of war in the Bab al-Mandab area of Taiz Governorate in western Yemen.
Bab al-Mandab has been heavily mined by Houthi forces due to its strategic position along one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serving as a vital route for global trade, which has made control of the area militarily and economically significant.
• 29 anti-personnel mines
• 49 anti-tank mines
• 106 assorted shells
• 1,698 assorted fuses
• 11 hand grenades
• 14 improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
• 2,986 rounds of assorted ammunition
• 26 armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds
• Six rockets
The operation, carried out under the supervision of the Second Special Tasks Team (STT), involved the safe disposal of large quantities of explosive remnants collected by Project Masam teams in the governorates of Taiz, Hudaydah, and Lahj.
Colonel Adel Al-Mahwali, Operations Chief of the 17th Giants Brigade in Bab al-Mandab, said that the district’s villages and surrounding areas have been among the most heavily mined in recent years. He noted that this contamination has caused numerous civilian casualties and has prevented residents from returning to their homes, farms, and livelihoods.
He added that Project Masam has played a vital role in reducing these risks by clearing thousands of mines and explosive remnants across Bab al-Mandab and the western coastal regions. These efforts have contributed to a noticeable decline in accidents and have enabled life to gradually resume in several affected communities.
Al-Mahwali also warned that the threat of landmines remains due to their indiscriminate deployment and the absence of maps identifying their locations. He referred to a recent incident in the Kahbub area of Bab al-Mandab district, where an anti-tank mine detonated beneath a civilian vehicle. Project Masam teams responded promptly, secured the site, and successfully removed five additional anti-tank mines from the area.
He expressed his appreciation to Project Masam and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their continued humanitarian support, noting that these efforts have been instrumental in helping civilians return safely to their homes and rebuild their lives after years of hardship.
Project Masam continues to carry out its humanitarian mission across multiple Yemeni governorates affected by widespread landmine and explosive contamination.
