At Least 12 Civilians Killed in Saudi Airstrike in Yemen

At least 12 civilians have been killed after Saudi warplanes attacked a pick-up truck in the northwestern Yemeni province of Hajjah on Wednesday, residents say, according to Press TV.

Locals said the passengers were shoppers heading to a local market in the Hiran area, adding six others were injured.

Separately, Saudi aircraft carried out bombings in the Nihm district in Sana’a province and Dhubab district in Ta’izz province, but there was no immediate word on possible casualties or damage.

 Meanwhile, Yemen’s army snipers killed four Saudi troops in Rabou’ah in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern region of Asir, media reports said.

Thousands of Saudi airstrikes have hit schools, markets, hospitals and homes in the capital Sana’a, killing many civilians which rights groups say may amount to war crimes.

More than 11,000 people have been killed in the 20-month Saudi war which has unleashed a humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

‘Campaign of harassment’

On Wednesday, Amnesty International said Saudi-backed militants fighting in Yemen are leading a “campaign of harassment and intimidation” against hospital staff and using civilians as human shields.

Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International Philip Luther said the Saudi mercenaries are stationing fighters and military positions near medical facilities.

“By positioning fighters and military positions near medical facilities they have compromised the safety of hospitals and flouted their obligation to protect civilians under international law,” he said. 

Luther said the Saudi-backed militants are also harassing medical staff and preventing doctors from carrying their work.

“Attacks targeting health professionals or medical facilities are prohibited by international humanitarian law and can constitute war crimes,” he said.

Saudi Arabia is waging a destructive war in Yemen in order to restore Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to power. Hadi resigned as president and fled the capital Sana’a to Riyadh in March last year. He returned to Aden in September.

 H.M