Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen kill over 30, mostly civilians

AHMED AL-HAJ, Associated Press


SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Saudi-led airstrikes targeting Shiite rebels killed at least 30 people, mostly civilians, when they hit a market area outside the capital on Saturday, Yemeni security officials said.

They said the raid hit the popular market in the Nihm district, killing at least 22 civilians and leaving burned bodies strewn across the area. The officials, who are neutral in a conflict that has split the armed forces, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

The strike comes a day after aid and rights groups urged Western countries to stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia, which is striking the Iran-backed rebels, known as Houthis, to support forces loyal to the internationally recognized government. The Houthis overran the capital, Sanaa, and other Yemeni cities in 2014.

The U.N. says the fighting in Yemen has killed more than 6,000 people since March 2015 and wounded more than 35,000.

The Control Arms Coalition said in a report Friday that 11 countries — including France, Britain, the U.S. and Germany —sold arms such as drones, missiles and bombs worth $25 billion to the Saudis in 2015.

This Monday, governments that signed the Arms Trade Treaty, which has the aim of "reducing the human suffering" by imposing restrictions on arms sold to countries that violate international law, will meet in Geneva.

European Union lawmakers have also called for an EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia over the airstrikes and naval blockade imposed on Yemen, despite lobbying by the kingdom.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-02-28

I don't trust the so called aid and rights groups as far as I can shove them. This along with the calls to stop selling arms to the Saudis reeks of a furtherance of the EU/Obama policy of whitewashing Iranian misdeeds to facilitate transferring allegiances to the Iranian side. If Saudi Arabia has deliberately targeted civilians I look forward to seeing evidence presented to the ICC rather than press allegations.

<deleted> couldnt they have done that yesterday before i bought my airplane ticket with Emirates. Really ... Going to be fun landing at ADH, Think i have to scout for missiles. Jesus

<deleted> couldnt they have done that yesterday before i bought my airplane ticket with Emirates. Really ... Going to be fun landing at ADH, Think i have to scout for missiles. Jesus

No worries... I was flying Emirates to Angola all of last year.... They detour around Yemen.

The Bleeding Heart Brigade wish to see the whole of the Middle East handed to Islamic terrorists.

The same apologists have already started destroying the West by importing 1000's of violent Islamist's into Europe and other parts of the Western world.

What is the real agenda of these people who willingly argue in favour of terrorists whilst hiding behind thick walls of security ?

Edited February 28, 201610 yr by sunnyjim5

I think we should try to put pressure on Saudi Arabia, put pressure on them to stop killing people. We have to bear in mind that Saudi Arabia is a country that is not a democracy, and there is little freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

And once pressure has been applied to try to stop Saudi Arabia killing people, if it doesn't work, then what ? Well, I think Britain should definitely back the USA if they ever decide on an invasion which will remove the Saudi regime and bring about a new one (regime change for Saudi Arabia).