Newsletters
The National Museum of Yemen in Sanaa, which houses more than 75,000 historical artifacts, suffered extensive damage on Sept. 10, 2025, when Israeli airstrikes hit the Yemeni capital.
The attack marked a new blow to the country’s cultural heritage, echoing the destruction Israel has carried out in Gaza.
The raids on Sanaa and the northern province of Al-Jawf killed 46 people and left 165 injured, according to Yemeni authorities.
Among the damaged sites was the Yemen National Museum, established in 1971, which has long served as a guardian of the country’s ancient history.
Ibad al-Hayal, head of Yemen’s General Authority for Antiquities and Museums, told reporters on Sept. 11 that the museum was hit because of its proximity to buildings targeted during the strikes, including those of the local newspapers 26sep and Yemen.
He described the destruction as extensive, noting that all of the museum’s windows were shattered, sections of the roof collapsed, and the rear façade was torn apart by shrapnel.
He added that the extent of damage to rare artifacts inside the museum is still being assessed.
The Ministry of Culture, under the Houthi-led administration, issued an urgent appeal to UNESCO, warning that the strikes had placed Yemen’s archaeological collections at “serious risk.”
The ministry stressed that the National Museum is not only a cornerstone of Yemen’s cultural identity but also a vital part of humanity’s shared heritage.
Officials emphasized that the building itself is a historical landmark, and the destruction threatens both the structure and the invaluable collections it houses.
The National Museum, along with the neighboring Folk Heritage Museum, was closed in 2011 during the uprisings against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh but reopened in 2024.
Its galleries display treasures dating back to the first millennium B.C., including statues, inscriptions, and royal relics from ancient Yemeni kingdoms such as Saba, Himyar, Ma’in, and Hadramawt.
1 min read
One of its most celebrated exhibits is the bronze statue of Ma’ad Karib, dated to the fifth–sixth centuries B.C., considered a cornerstone of Yemen’s archaeological legacy.
The museum also contains a special section dedicated to mummies, though many have deteriorated due to years of closure and lack of conservation work.
With its rich collection of over 75,000 objects, the Yemen National Museum has long been regarded as a cultural treasure for both Yemen and the wider world.
The recent strikes have not only taken lives but also imperiled irreplaceable pieces of global history.
As calls for international assistance grow, the future of Yemen’s cultural heritage remains uncertain in the face of ongoing conflict.
1 min read
