Saudi Arabia–Yemen border killings

Guards of the Saudi General Directorate of Border Guard have been accused of killing hundreds of Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers along the Saudi Arabian–Yemeni border from March 2022 to June 2023.^[1][2][3] Human Rights Watch stated that these killings may qualify as crimes against humanity,^[1] with reports stating that explosive weaponry were used to kill many migrants at close range, including women and children.^[4] In addition to killing and beating migrants, the Saudi border guards were also reported to have raped female migrants, as well as forcing local men and boys to carry out these rapes.^[5]

As of June 2024, border killings were reported to still be occurring on a regular basis.^[6]

Saudi Arabia and Yemen seen from space.

References

1. Hardman, Nadia (2023-08-21). ""They Fired on Us Like Rain"". Human Rights Watch.
2. "Hundreds of migrants killed by Saudi border guards - report". BBC News. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
3. Beaumont, Peter (2023-08-21). "'Fired on like rain': Saudi border guards accused of mass killings of Ethiopians". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
4. "Saudi Arabia: Mass Killings of Migrants at Yemen Border". Human Rights Watch. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
5. Harter, Fred (28 February 2025). "Saudi border forces accused of killing 'hundreds of Ethiopian migrants'". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
6. Horwood, Chris; Frouws, Bram (5 June 2024). "Saudi border killings continue". Mixed Migration Centre. Retrieved 22 November 2025.