International
0

AI Censures Saudi-Led Killing of Yemeni Civilians

AI Censures Saudi-Led Killing of Yemeni Civilians
AI Censures Saudi-Led Killing of Yemeni Civilians

Amnesty International released a report on Thursday, demonstrating the price Yemeni civilians pay under Saudi-led airstrikes and a failure to abide by the requirements of international humanitarian law.

The group investigated eight airstrikes in different parts of the country, including multiple strikes in the capital Sana’a on June 12 and 13 and in Tai’z on June 16, World Bulletin reported.

In total, the eight incidents killed 54 civilians (27 children, 16 women and 11 men) including a one-day-old infant, and injured 55, (19 children, 19 women and 17 men).

“The cases we have analyzed point to a pattern of attacks destroying civilian homes and resulting in scores of civilian deaths and injuries. There is no indication that the Saudi-led military coalition has done anything to prevent and redress such violations,” said Donatella Rovera, Senior Crisis Response Advisor at Amnesty International.

Despite Saudi Arabia’s denial of their responsibility, the group found that civilians are being killed by and the coalition widely uses the same 900-kg bombs.

“Even if the intended target had in fact been an arms cache, this would not justify such a deadly attack on homes full of civilians without prior warning. Those planning the airstrike must have known it was likely to result in high civilian casualties and failed to take the necessary steps under international humanitarian law,” said Donatella Rovera. More than 2,600 people have been killed in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country since March, according to UN figures.

  Al-Qaeda Suspects Killed

A drone attacked an army base held by Al-Qaeda in southeastern Yemen in the early hours of Friday, killing four suspected militants, witnesses said.

The base is near Al-Mukulla, a port city which has been the target of several drone attacks in recent weeks. Their deaths bring to 13 the number of suspected Al-Qaeda militants killed by similar strikes,  including one that killed Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the leader of AQAP, one of the most active branches of Al-Qaeda militant network.

 

Financialtribune.com