Women in Aden demand return of their sons from Saudi death camps

ADEN, Aug. 18 (YPA) – Dozens of women gathered in the Tawahi district of Saudi-controlled city of Aden in southern Yemen for a protest calling for an end to the recruitment of their sons to fight on northern fronts, demanding their immediate return to their home regions.

Protesters expressed strong opposition to young men from Aden and Saudi-controlled governorates being drawn into the conflict against Sanaa forces, criticizing political and religious groups for taking advantage of dire living conditions to drive recruitment.

Demonstrators held placards repudiating the exploitation of economic distress to fuel conflicts that serve regional and international interests without advancing southern Yemeni causes. They further called for an end to external guardianship and the restoration of essential public services.

The demonstration highlights ongoing concerns over regional coalition forces—including Saudi Arabia and the UAE—leveraging deteriorated economic and service infrastructure to recruit local youth into aligned factions.

The gathering also follows heightened tensions among local groups, including previous military escalations, casualties among the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) fighters, and complex political shifts involving regional actors and local factions.

YPA