Disturbing footage depicts minors being drawn into military training, armed activities and ideological indoctrination, exposing the devastating human cost of the conflict

RIYADH, Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (WNP): A disturbing video report broadcast by Saudi Arabia’s AlEkhbariya TV has exposed the ruthless and reckless practice of Yemen’s Houthi militia recruiting children and turning young lives into instruments of war, highlighting a grim reality in which childhood innocence is being replaced by weapons, military training and extremist indoctrination.

Titled “From Schoolbooks to Guns,” the report presents deeply troubling scenes depicting children being drawn away from the normal routines of childhood and exposed to a militarized environment.

The footage shows minors in military-style clothing, receiving weapons-related training and being exposed to armed groups, illustrating the devastating consequences of the recruitment and exploitation of children in Yemen.

The report offers a disturbing glimpse into how children, who should be attending schools, playing with friends and building their futures, are instead exposed to an environment of violence, military discipline and ideological conditioning.

The footage also highlights the emotional and psychological dimensions of this exploitation, showing how the conflict is depriving children of their right to a safe childhood and placing their lives and futures at grave risk.

The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict is a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights standards. Children must never be treated as fighters, military assets or instruments for advancing the objectives of armed groups.

The AlEkhbariya report brings renewed attention to the urgent need to protect Yemeni children from recruitment, exploitation and exposure to violence. It also underscores the responsibility of the international community and relevant humanitarian organizations to strengthen efforts for the protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of children affected by the conflict.

Yemen’s children deserve classrooms, not military camps; books, not guns; and opportunities to build a peaceful future, not a childhood shaped by violence.

The most tragic cost of war is not only the destruction it leaves behind, but the generations it steals before they have even had the chance to grow.