US Can No Longer Back Saudi Arabia With Its War Crimes Against Yemen’s Peoples

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I am sick of the US backing Saudi Arabia as its officials have been committing was crimes against the peoples of Yemen. This is not a war of necessity. It is time that the US calls out Saudi Arabia which has the history of being the number one exporter of extremist terrorist groups.

This nightmare/ outrage has to end.

As per a 8/9/18 ICRC delegation’s Tweet in Yemen, “Following an attack this morning on a bus driving children in Dahyan Market, northern Sa’ada, @ICRC_yemen- supported hospital has received dozens of dead and wounded. Under the international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected during conflict.”

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SAUD MILITARY BOMBS BUS

Here’s the rest of the story…

On August 10, 2018, of Al Jazeera published the following report, “Where are my brothers?’ pleads Yemen school bus attack survivor” (“At least 50 people, including several children, were killed and scores injured in Thursday’s air raid on a bus in Saada.”)

Excerpts:

“Grief and anger has gripped Yemen‘s war-ravaged province of Saada a day after the Saudi-UAE military alliance, backed by the US, bombed a school bus carrying children heading to a Quran class.”

“Al Masirah, a pro-Houthi TV network, said at least 50 people, including dozens of children, were killed in the attack which struck the bus as it was approaching a crowded market in Dahyan city.”

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“Johannes Bruwer, the head of a delegation for the International Committee of the Red Crescent (ICRC) in Yemen, said in a Twitter post that according to local officials, 77 were also injured.”

“Of these, the ICRC hospital in Al Talh received 30 dead and 48 injured, of which the vast majority were children.”

“Mohammed Jabber Awad, the governor of Saada, told Al Jazeera that the bus was carrying 30 students, but as many as 60 people may have been killed in the raid. ”

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“According to the ICRC, one of the few humanitarian institutions helping civilians in the country, all of the children who were admitted to its hospital were under the age of 15.”

“The Saudi-UAE alliance later issued a statement to the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network saying it launched the attacks on Saada, and accused Houthi fighters of using the children as human shields.”

“[The air strikes] conformed to international and humanitarian laws,” a statement quoting coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said.”

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‘Where are my brothers?’

“In unverified videos uploaded to social media, bereaved parents could be seen pleading with hospital staff for updates, as dead bodies literally began piling up, on top of each other.”

“In one video, a father could be seen struggling to contain his grief after he found his dead son under a heap of corpses in the boot of a Nissan pick-up truck.”

“In a second video, one of the children who survived the attack refused to receive medical attention until doctors updated him on the fate of his two younger brothers.”

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“I have two brothers, Hassan and Yehia, who are smaller than me,” the boy said. “Where are my brothers? … I don’t want help until I see my brothers.”

“Pictures from the scene of the attack showed homes and businesses detroyed, with trails of blood on the roads and UNICEF rucksacks splattered with blood.”

“I am watching with horror the images and videos coming from Saada in #Yemen and I have no words. How was this a military target? Why are children being killed?” tweeted Meritxell Relano, UNICEF’s resident representative in Yemen.”

 

‘Silence legitimises Saudi aggression’

“Yemen’s rebel-run Ministry of Defense issued a statement early on Friday, saying: “The silence of the international community legitimised [the Saudi-UAE alliance’s] continuing aggression and brutality.”

“By staying silent about these crimes, they are accomplices in the deaths of women and children.”

“Hussain al-Bukhaiti, a pro-Houthi activist, told Al Jazeera that the death toll was expected to rise.”

“Most of the hospitals and clinics in Saada have either been completely destroyed or are badly damaged, and most lack basic medicines. So how will they treat them?” he said.”

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Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, reporting from neighbouring Djibouti, said this latest attack would enrage Yemenis who are already aggrieved over the rising civilian death toll.

“The Saudis tend to deny these kinds of actions, which have sadly become all too common,” he said. “It’s all too rare for either party [the alliance or the Houthis] to take responsibility”.

“With logistical support from the US, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have carried out attacks in Yemen since March 2015. The war effort is ostensibly an attempt to reinstate the internationally recognized government of President  Abu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.”

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“In 2014, Hadi and his forces were overrun by Houthi rebels who took over much of the country, including Sanaa.”

“Earlier this month, dozens of people – including women and children – were killed in Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeidah in mortar attacks believed to be carried out by the Saudi-UAE alliance.”

“According to the UN, at least 10,000 people have been killed in the three-year war – a death toll that has not been updated in years and is certain to be far higher.”

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“In June, Saudi and UAE forces carried out 258 air raids on Yemen, nearly one-third of which targeted non-military sites.”

“The Yemen Data Project listed 24 air raids on residential areas, three on water and electricity sites, three hitting healthcare facilities, and one targeting an IDP camp.”

12 comments

  1. The wars of the Middle and Near East have long and complex histories. The easiest (but not first) point of reference would be the eras when the European and Russian empires were at their height. Since those times many of the folk within that region have fought for their identities and to preserve their eminence. This current era sees the forces of Saudi Arabia and Iran involved in many proxy conflicts. These are determined and ruthless governments intent on ensuring their own authority is stamped and if children die there is a shrug.
    We in the West are quite hopeless, helpless and hapless in trying to stem this series of regional wars as both nations have been astute enough to ensure their wealth base is diversified and are ready to play the long game…..which is tragic news for the people of the Yemen and Syria to name but two states.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Roger,

      Your assessment of the situation is 100% accurate. It is my opinion that the US has no business to be backing Saudi Arabia in this proxy war being waged in Yemen. The US has been providing tactical support to the Saudi military.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 2 people

      • They’ve chosen a side and are locked in. In a political way there are parallels to the policies of the Vietnam era.
        As with any region in conflict there are no good guys. And this one has so many layers and threads you would need an entire state department of its own to get a clear view.
        And it the current climate that is not going to happen.

        Liked by 2 people

        • Having lived in the region for many years, I agree that assigning blame for Middle East conflicts is an incredibly complex task. What I do think is evident, however, is that continued US Government support for the incompetent Saudi-led coalition is both inhumane and a further stain on failed American foreign policy.

          Liked by 2 people

        • Hello Henry.
          Thanks to Trump & Co’s over-simplistic view of the Middle East, the US has found herself locked into an unhappy place.
          At serious odds with Iran and tied to Saudi Arabia.
          Both nations; the former under the driving force of the Revolutionary Guard and the latter ruled the ruthless but dangerously charming man with a mission Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud are set for a Long Game to dominate the region. Iran helping support the misery in Syria and Saudi Arabia in the Yemen both sites of proxy wars.
          Both have become quite adept at using western states as they see fit, lessons having be learned over the last century (The boot is on the other foot now!).
          When a map of their respective influences is drawn it could be argued Israel and Palestine are almost minor questions neither worry too much about.
          Having lived in the region you would know far better than I how complex and deep feelings and beliefs , religious, political, social and regional go.
          There are no simplistic solutions.
          And of course who opts for them??
          Best wishes
          Roger

          Liked by 1 person

  2. Gronda, Yemen has served as a workforce for the Saudis. Their inhumane treatment, including our role in supplying the Saudis, will not be remembered well. Keith

    Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Keith,

      What is the US doing being a party to this insanity? We do not need to be enabling the Saudis in their misadventures.

      You are right. History will not judge us well for our enabling Saudi Arabia in these crimes against humanity.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Dear DGKaye,

    Your analysis is right on the money. It is a sad state of affairs, when we are made to wonder, which country’s interests is President Trump representing, that of Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel or the USA.

    Hugs, Gronda

    Liked by 1 person

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