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The Houthi militias, having been expelled from a number of cities across Yemen by coalition forces, left hundreds of thousands of mines in their wake. As a result, Yemen has become the single most heavily mined country since the end of World War II.
A wide variety of mines have been found so far across Yemen, ranging from antipersonnel to antitank mines, and in some instances, even naval mines. While all mines and IEDs pose a massive risk to human life, naval mines also pose a massive risk to the environment. Should an oil tanker strike one, the damage to the ecosystem would be catastrophic.
Contrary to the name, these mines today target commercial and merchant vessels, and may either drift or be moored in heavily trafficked waters. As with landmines, it’s important to note that one of their purposes is to instill fear in a populace and to hinder day to day life.
In that regard, landmines are unfortunately extremely effective. Even in urban areas, they can be placed so close together, and in such a haphazard fashion that normal travel is almost impossible until such time as they can be safely cleared.