Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen kill at least ten civilians and wounding twelve

 (August 7) Saudi-led airstrikes targeting northern Yemen killed at least ten civilians while wounding another 12 on this Thursday. The attacks hit a number of residential areas in al-Jawf.

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The casualties

Among the ten killed at least seven were children. Women and children comprised most of the wounded. The recent attacks are just the latest of several Saudi attack that have hit civilian areas in the north causing substantial civilian casualties.

Saudis did not announce what if any the military targets were

The Saudis have never bothered to announce what their military targets were. Neither have the Saudis officially responded to reports of substantial civilian casualties.

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International condemnation of Saudi air campaign

The many reports of civilian casualties caused by Saudi airstrikes in north Yemen have led to an international backlash against the Saudi operations. There have been many calls for countries to cease selling arms to the Saudis without assurances they will not be employed to kill civilians.

Last month, another Saudi-led airstrike killed at least 25 in al-Jawf as well as 10 others in the neighboring province of Hajjah,.

Background

Yemeni has had a civil war since late 2014 when a Houthi group backed by Iran seized control of much of the north including the capital Sanna. The Saudi-backed government of President Mansour Hadi was eventually forced into exile. However, a Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict in 2015 to help restore the Hadi government to power. Background on the Houthis featured on the appended video.

The civil war has killed tens of thousands, most civilians. Over 3 million people have been displaced and created a humanitarian disaster with more than 20 million on the brink of famine while facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Saudi- led airstrikes in northern Yemen killed at least 25 civilians

(July 16) Saudi-led airstrikes in northern Yemen continued to hit civilian areas rather than military targets with the latest attacks hitting a residential area in Jawf Province, killing at least 25 civilians and destroying three houses.

Casualties

The victims in the attack included a number of women and children. In addition at least nine civilians were critically wounded as well. Saudi officials as usual refused to comment on why they attacked the houses.

Raids were second round of attacks this week

This is the second time this week there has been a round of attacks in North Yemen. In both rounds only civilian deaths have been reported. Saudi Arabia has failed to explain why the raids have hit civilian targets rather than Houthi military targets. The Saudis have long faced strong international criticism for their air attacks on civilian targets.

The Saudis have at times suggested the attacks as a response to Houthi attempts to attack Saudi military and government sites. They rarely cause much damage and at least they are choosing non-civilian targets. The Saudis on the other hand appear to target any Shi'ite civilians in areas controlled by the Houthi rebels.

The earlier attack killed a family of ten members in Washhah a district in the northwestern province of Hajjah. A Bloomberg article reported: " Ten civilians were killed and two others wounded in an air strike carried out by Saudi-led forces in the province of Hajjah, according to the Saba news agency which is under the control of Shiite Houthi rebels. The report said the strike targeted a house in the Washhah district, adding that among the casualties were women and children."

Background

Yemen has been in a civil war since late in 2014. A Houthi group backed by Iran seized much of the north of Yemen including the capital Sanaa. The Hadi government was forced into exile in Saudi Arabia but the Saudis returned to the conflict in March of 2015 in an attempt to reinstate the government of Mansour Hadi. The has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 3 million while leaving 20 million on the brink of starvation.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Saudi Arabia facing pushback after attack by tribe in eastern Yemen

(February  19) Saudi Arabia's venture into Yemen to try and reinstate the internationally recognized government of Mansur Hadi has caused the country continual problems as it has confronted not just Houthi rebels who control much of the north but southern separatists.

Background

The Southern Transitional Council(STC), separatists fighting for an independent South Yemen, with the help of United Arab Emirates (UAE) forces had seized the southern port of Aden and some surrounding areas. However, the Saudis were able to reach a peace agreement with the STC and the UAE giving the STC some seats in the Hadi government but much to Hadi's displeasure.

Now it appears the Saudis may be creating a new enemy apart from the Houthis who control much of the north and are supported by Iran. The Saudis stormed the town of Shahn in the east of the country on the Oman border.

The Saudi attack

The Saudis have not explained what their aim was but they attacked a cargo port that belongs to the Mahra tribes in Mahra Province. The province has seen almost no fighting since the 2015 Saudi invasion. It is far east of Houthi-controlled territory. Mahra tribesmen denounced the seizure as a Saudi intrusion and claimed the seizure of the port was a violation of the sovereignty of the tribe. Saudi forces had opened fire during the seizure and injured a number of fighters.

A people's sit-in committee of the Mahra tribe issued a statement on Facebook: "The committee condemns these practices and violations committed by the Saudi occupation and its militias against our people. It constitutes a flagrant violation of Yemeni sovereignty and national identity. In this dangerous turning point of our honorable history, we call on all the tribes of the province, their sheikhs and their dignitaries, and their citizens to unite alongside all the liberals of the province to prevent the Saudi occupation from imposing its domination Al-Mahra."

Starting a fight with the tribes is a risky move as tribal factions and alliances in Yemen have often been more powerful than the government. The Saudis could be in for a fierce fight on territory where before there had been no resistance to the Saudi invasion.

The apparent reason behind the seizure

Saudi Arabia has already stationed some troops in the province. They have taken control of the airport and the main seaport. They did so after alleging that they were important points for smuggling weapons to the Houthis who control much of the northeast of Yemen including the capital Sanaa. The Saudis have also established more than a dozen military bases in the province and this has led to frequent tensions which have been escalating into armed clashes. It looks as if the Saudis are creating new enemies even while they appear unable to drive back the Houthis.

War has created a humanitarian disaster and caused many casualties

A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting Houthi rebels since 2015. Saudi actions have been widely condemned as they have targeted schools and hospitals, and even a wedding party. Including civilians and fighters some reports estimate that over 100,000 people have been killed since the war started. As mentioned earlier the Saudi coalition has been trying to restore the internationally-recognized government of Mansur Hadi but so far have not been able to retake the north and the capital from the Houthis,

The fighting has left millions suffering from food and medical shortages creating what many claim is the world's worst humanitarian disaster. As shown in the appended video the Houthis claim to have shot down a plane.

Previously published in the Digital Journal