The National Human Rights Authority strongly condemned the criminal attack carried out against a group of Yemeni fishermen in the Red Sea territorial waters by an Eritrean naval patrol.

In a statement, the Authority said that, according to preliminary information, the Eritrean patrol opened direct fire on approximately 50 Yemeni fishermen while they were carrying out their fishing activities, resulting in the death of one fisherman and injuries to several others of varying degrees, putting the lives of unarmed civilians at serious risk.

The attack was described as a blatant violation of international human rights law, a clear breach of international humanitarian law, and an infringement on the right to life, security, and physical integrity, in addition to being an assault on protected civilians not involved in any hostile acts.

The Human Rights Authority held the Eritrean authorities fully legally responsible for the incident and its consequences, calling for an independent and transparent international investigation into the attack and the broader crimes and violations committed against Yemeni fishermen, and demanding accountability for those responsible.

The Authority also urged international and human rights organizations, foremost among them the United Nations, the UN Security Council, and the Human Rights Council, to fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities.

It stressed the need to protect Yemeni fishermen and ensure their safety while carrying out legitimate work, calling for fair compensation for victims and their families.

Finally, the Authority emphasized that targeting civilians, regardless of the pretext, constitutes a crime that does not expire with time, affirming its continued monitoring and documentation of all violations against Yemeni citizens and taking the necessary legal and human rights measures.