Ghaith Mohammed Abdulrahman Mohammed was nearly one year old when he was killed in his home by mortar shelling.
At around midnight on 27 May, the Salam region of al-Dhale’ governorate, south-west Yemen, came under mortar fire from the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group. One of the shells hit the wall of Ghaith’s home, causing a violent explosion. Heavy shrapnel scattered inside the house.
Ghaith was fatally struck in the front of his head by the shrapnel. His 27-year-old father was hit in the left side of his chest.
Ghaith’s father recalled hearing
‘a massive explosion that caused panic and terror among all family members. Shrapnel flew throughout the house. One piece lodged in my chest. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening at the time—the house felt like a military site under attack. Smoke filled the air, and everything was damaged—walls, water tanks, and furniture.
‘Then the tragedy struck. I looked at my son Ghaith—he hadn’t even completed his first year. I found him covered in blood, a piece of shrapnel had struck his head. I carried him and rushed to Zayed Hospital in the Sanah area, where he received first aid.’
The doctors decided to transfer Ghaith to another hospital, in Aden Governorate, but he died from blood loss before arriving.
‘That day was the most devastating day of my life. I lost my own flesh and blood,’ said Ghaith’s father. He added:
‘We suffer greatly from repeated indiscriminate shelling in this area. Many homes have been damaged, and numerous civilian casualties. My son Ghaith and I were among them. We—innocent civilians—are the ones paying the price of this war, with our lives, our homes, and our children, for no crime we’ve committed.’