A/HRC/42/CRP.1 and killed a man on al-Terbyiah Street153. On 4 May, in the vicinity of the al-Sayed market, a sniper shot and killed a three-year-old girl who was carried by her father as he ran away from the shelling.154 In early May 2015, also in the vicinity of al-Sayed market, a sniper fired at an elderly woman and killed her instantly.155 Violations 152. International humanitarian law prohibits direct attacks against civilians. Attacks may only be directed against those directly participating in hostilities. Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities is a serious violation of humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime, which may lead to individual criminal responsibility. 156 The principle of distinction further prohibits indiscriminate attacks. Such attacks may lead to criminal responsibility for the war crime of launching an indiscriminate attack resulting in death or injury to civilians.157 153. The cases examined provide a sample of the nature of the use of small arms fire, especially by snipers. In many cases, Houthi fighters used small arms fire in a manner that resulted in the killing of civilians. The timing, location and manner in which the weapons were used manifestly resulted in an inability to distinguish between civilians and military targets. In at least one case, that is, the sniper on al-Ghoweizi who shot in the direction of a father carrying a one year-old child, it appeared - due to the precision of the weapon and the location and timing - that the sniper deliberately targeted these people knowing they were civilians. 154. The Group of Experts found reasonable grounds to believe that the Houthis are responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law in launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in the death or injury of civilians and, in some cases, in directing attacks against civilians. These acts may lead to criminal responsibility for war crimes. (c) Military use of hospitals resulting in damage, civilian casualties, and denial of access to healthcare “The Houthis shot at any person passing on the road in front of the hospital and prohibited removal of the dead bodies in the streets." Doctor at al-Qatiya’a 155. Attacks on medical facilities and medical personnel, fighting near medical facilities, occupation of hospitals, and other restrictions on access to the health facilities severely impaired access to medical care during the 2015 hostilities in and around Aden. In combination with shortages of medication, food, water, and electricity, this led to a deterioration of hygiene levels and the spread of disease and epidemics. 158 Medical authorities in Aden assessed that the conflict has affected the functioning of over 50 per cent of the medical facilities and that the closure of a landmark health institution like the alJumhuriyah hospital and other health facilities has led to the death of patients requiring specialized medical care.159 Events at al-Qatiya’a health compound in Craiter District, Aden 153 Confidential Sources on File. Confidential Sources on File. See also Aden City facebook page. 155 Confidential Sources on File. 156 Art. 8 2(e)(i), Rome Statute. 157 See ICRC Study on customary IHL, rule 156. 158 Confidential Sources on File. 159 Confidential Sources on File. Also see: Centre for Public Opinion Studies and Social Research (Madar), “Report on the Human Rights Violations in the South Committed by the Houthi, Militias and Forces of the Yemeni Army Loyal to the Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh”, Aden 2015. 154 36