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

Yemen separatists take control of large Yemeni island of Socotra

(June 22) The internationally recognized Hadi Yemen government which is supported by Saudi Arabia has lost control of the large island off the south of the Yemen coast to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) a UAE-backed separatist group.

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Hadi Yemen government calls action a coup

The UAE is already an ally of the STC in establishing separatist control of the south of much of the mainland. However, the Saudis support the Hadi government which is opposed to the separatists and wants a united Yemen. The STC wants a separate state in the south as existed some time ago. The UAE hopes to have a Southern Yemen within which it will have considerable influence. STC control of Socotra will help further such an aim.

UAE and Saudis are nominally united in a fight against the Houthis

The Hadi government and the UAE are nominally united in fighting the Houthi rebels who control much of the north of Yemen including the capital Sanaa. The Houthis are supported by Iran. Together with the UAE the STC has taken control of much of the south of the country causing an internal struggle and fighting the Saudis who support Hadi. There was an agreed upon ceasefire in which the STC was to be given seats in the Hadi cabinet. However, the Hadi government resisted the terms.

The Saudis may be tiring of the Hadi government's resistance to Saudi attempts to resolve the situation and come to a peace agreement. The Hadi government sees Saudi agreements with the UAE and STC as a betrayal and that seizure of Socotra by STC as another betrayal.

Ceasefire agreement between Saudis and STC

According to the Saudi-led military mission fighting the Houthis, the Yemen government and the STC have agreed not only to a ceasefire but to begin talks on implementing an earlier deal; The former coalition allies agreed to a ceasefire in Abyan province a major hotspot and de-escalation of tension in other areas.

The STC and the Hadi government also agreed to hold meetings on implementation of the 2019 Riyadh agreement according to coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki. The statement was carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. It seems that the Saudis have persuaded the Hadi government to go along with the peace terms. The Saudis appear to want to end the war and the STC are willing to accept the terms of the deal it would seem. If Hadi does not comply his government will probably lose the support of the Saudis. The Saudi campaign has been roundly criticized by many especially for a bombing campaign that has killed many civilians and destroyed infrastructure creating a humanitarian disaster.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Yemen airstrikes by Saudi-led US-backed coalition kills 13 people

 (June 16) This Monday an airstrike by the US-backed Saudi coalition fighting the rebel Houthis in Yemen hit a vehicle in North Yemen. The attack killed 13 people including four children.

UN removed Saudi Arabia from a list of countries that have harmed children in conflicts

On the very same day of the attacks UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres removed the Saudis from the list. A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch said: “The Secretary-General is adding a new level of shame to his ‘list of shame’ by removing the Saudi-led coalition and ignoring the U.N.’s own evidence of continued grave violations against children.”

The Saudi-led coalition often targets civilian infrastructure including schools, hospitals, water treatment plants and markets. For this reason many human rights groups disapprove of the UN removing the Saudis from the list. Some diplomats say that both Saudi Arabia and Israel have put pressure on the UN to stay off the list but the UN has denied there has been any pressure.

Even though the coalition killed 222 children in Yemen last year, Guterres said the Saudi coalition would “be delisted for the violation of killing and maiming, following a sustained significant decrease in killing and maiming due to air strikes” and the implementation of measures aimed at protecting children. The rebel Houthis remain on the list. Gutterres admitted that although more bombs fell earlier in the campaign the bombs were still falling on civilians regularly.

Background

The conflict in Yemen began back in 2014 when Houthi rebels were able to seize most of the north including the capital Sanaa. The Hadi government was forced into exile but a US-backed Saudi coalition intervened to try and reinstate the Hadi government. The situation is complicated by an alliance between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the separatist Southern Alliance which seek a separate state in the south a position counter to that of the Hadi government. The UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis are supported by Iran.

According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project the conflict has killed over 112,000 people including 12,000 civilians. Aerial bombardment and intense ground fire has destroyed thousands of buildings and has left half of the country's hospitals dysfunctional. The conflict has also made it very difficult to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic which is spreading throughout the country.

Previously published in the DIgital Journal

Un Security Council backs call for all sides in Yemen to call an immediate ceasefire to help stop the COVID-19 pandemic

(April 18)The United Nations Security Council has supported a call by Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres asking for all sides in Yemen to agree to an immediate ceasefire in order to concentrate on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yemen lacks medical infrastructure to fight the virus

The first verified cases of the virus have just reached Yemen but in the absence of testing there could already be many cases present but not confirmed. Yemen simply lacks the medical capacity to deal with any large outbreak of COVID-19.

Saudis have unilaterally launched a two-week ceasefire

The Houthi rebels have rejected joining the ceasefire complaining that the Saudis have not ended a naval blockade of a key port through which aid and supplies reach Houthi-controlled areas. In many areas there is a shortage of food as well as medical supplies and some areas have suffered from cholera outbreaks. The Houthis have continued their offensive in the north much of which they control including the capital Sanaa.

The Houthi military command also accused the Saudi-led coalition of violating the cease fire 82 times over 24 hours with airstrikes in Marib province and artillery attacks on the port of Hodeida a key gateway for humanitarian aid.

On Friday, the Houthis' military command accused the coalition of violating the cease-fire 82 times over the past 24 hours, with airstrikes on the central province of Marib and artillery attacks in the port city of Hodeida, the country’s main gateway for humanitarian aid.

The two sides still engaging in indirect talks

In spite of the continuing conflict, the two opponents are engaging in UN-supported talks. The UN Special Envoy Martin Griffith has claimed that the talks have been making very good progress. Both sides realized the importance of fighting COVID-19. Griffith said that due to COVID-19 the talks were making very good progress.

Griffith optimistic about a ceasefire and direct talks

Griffith actually predicted there would in the near future be a nationwide ceasefire along with direct talks. However, the Houthis are continuing to insist that the Saudi naval blockade be lifted first. This would allow humanitarian aid into Yemen which would be a big step forward in the fight against COVID-19. Up to now though the Saudis have wanted to maintain a stranglehold on aid. No doubt the Saudis want to ensure that no arms and other supplies for the Houthi rebels arrive by sea through Hodeida.

Published previously in the Digital Journal

Animal rights groups condemn Saudi-led deadly attack on stable killing horses in Yemen

(April 1) Animal rights organizations issued statements Tuesday condemning the Saudi Arabian attack on Yemen's capital city Sanaa particularly an attack against a horse stable that killed numerous horses. Sanaa is held by the Iran-supported Houthi rebels

Horse stable was at a military college

The Saudi defense for the attack was that the stable was at a military college. The Saudis claim that the targets threatened civilian lives. It is difficult to see how the horses could be such a threat as at no point during the Yemen was have horses been a factor.

The attack on the stable

There were at least 19 attacks launched by the Saudis against military bases and the military college where the stable was located among others. Animal rights groups called the attack on the stable a horse massacre. At least 70 were killed and many others badly wounded.

The Saudi attacks over the last five years have often been criticized for killing civilians including women and children. There was one civilian killed in this attack as well.

The attacks could very well have been in retaliation for recent Houthi attacks using ballistic missiles aimed at Ryad and another Saudi city.

Peace attempts have been unsuccessful

In November the two sides had shown an interest in at least de-escalating the violence. Saudi Arabia said that it had an open channel with the rebels to negotiate and end the war. However these efforts appear to have failed to bear fruit. When the Saudis began the war to reinstate the Hadi government that the Houthis had overthrown they expected to win quickly. It was not to be, after five years the Houthis control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and of late have extended their control. The Saudis may be ready to ditch the Hadi government if it does not go along with a peace deal with southern separatists supported by the UAE who negotiated a peace deal after an internal conflict. The Hadi government was supposed to negotiate a power sharing deal with the separatists but have resisted doing so. The Saudis may decide that they can make a peace deal that would see the Houthis rule the north and the separatists along with Hadi rule the south. If Hadi refused to go along he could be left to his own devices.

Yemen has been in a humanitarian crisis because of the war with diseases such as cholera running rampant. More than 100,000 people have been killed since the war began in March of 2015.

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

Casualty reports vary after Houthi attack on Saudis in Marib province in Yemen

(January 19)Reports on the number of casualties caused by an attack on a mosque in a military camp in the Yemeni central province of Marib vary widely. However one report claims more than 100 persons were killed and as many as 100 wounded

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The attack

Arab News reported: "The Houthis attacked a mosque in a military camp in the central province of Marib — about 170 kilometers (105 miles) east of the capital Sanaa — during evening prayers, military sources told AFP.“We strongly condemn the terrorist attack on a mosque by the Houthi militias... which left more than 100 dead and dozens injured,” the Yemeni foreign ministry said on Twitter." Although the attack was blamed on the Houthis no one has yet claimed responsibility.

Antiwar.com claimed the attack was by a missile but others claimed there was a drone involved as well. The Houthis are known to have substantial missile capabilities that they have used throughout the war.

The death toll estimate has doubled since the initial estimates and officials expected the number would continue to rise after the devastating strike. An earlier report in the Herald Sun said:The death toll in an attack on a Yemeni army camp has climbed to 75 soldiers, government military officials have announced. Initially, security sources said the attack on the camp in the eastern province of Mareb on Saturday killed at least 40 soldiers. But on Sunday, a military official based in Mareb, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack had left 75 soldiers dead and 100 others injured." The paper also claimed the attack was by drones.

Fighting had been dying down and peace talks may be on the horizon

The UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths is attempting to restart peace talks between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government of Mansur Hadi. Fighting between the Hadi government and Houthis has been down substantially in recent weeks. However, there is no ceasefire agreement and Saudis had lately launched airstrikes against Houthi targets. This may have led the Houthi's to reply with their own attack.

The Houthi civil war with Saudi-backed government of Mansur Hadi started back in late 2014. The war escalated in March of 2015 when the Houthis captured not only much of the north with the capital Sanaa but were advancing in the temporary capital of the Hadi government in the port of Aden. The Saudis and allies began an intensive air campaign against the Houthis. The Houthis have the support of Iran.

There has also been a separate struggle within the anti-Houthi forces between Yemeni separatists backed by the UAE and the Saudi-supported Hadi government but an agreement may have settled that issue at least for the time being although there are still problems.

Formerly published in the Digital Journal

Secret talks between Saudis and Houthis appear to make some progress

(December 2, 2019) Secret talks between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen Houthi movement appear to be making progress. Prisoners were released, medical patients have been evacuated and the number of attacks are down significantly.

The Stockholm Agreement

Prior to the recent talks there had been an agreement to solve some humanitarian issues such as access to ports for delivery of humanitarian aid. The Stockholm agreement had three main parts: "1 An agreement on the city of Hodeidah and the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa. 2 An executive mechanism on activating the prisoner exchange agreement.3 A statement of understanding on Taïz." Taiz is a city contested by both sides and Hodeiedah was a main port for the entry of humanitarian supplies essential for the many Yemenis facing starvation.

The agreement was in December of 2018 and raised hopes that the Yemen war could be ended. But as a recent article reports: "..those hopes faded quickly, as both sides accused each other of failing to implement the pact. Though the United Nations-led scheme has apparently foundered, separate talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have Yemenis wondering whether some sort of peace may in fact be on the table. "

The talks

The Saudis have admitted there are "indirect, behind-the-scenes talks' with the Houthis, who control much of North Yemen and have the support of Iran. Oman that borders on Yemen has been brokering the talks. Early suggestions have been that the deal might be somewhat the same as the deal with southern separatists that ended fighting with the Saudis and separatist southerners with their UAE allies in Aden and adjoining areas. As the BBC reported: "Yemen's government has signed a power-sharing deal with separatists in the south of the country that is intended to end months of infighting.The two are meant to be part of an alliance with a Saudi-led multinational coalition that has been battling the rebel Houthi movement since 2015."

However, the deal with Saudis the UAE and separatists has upset the Hadi government does which does not like sharing power with the separatists. In the past, the Hadi government, that has the support of Saudi Arabia, has rejected any deal in which the Houthis get anything. In the Hadi view it is simply the legitimate government and the Houthis have no claim to any power.

New deal will be between Saudis and Houthis with no Hadi government involvement

The Saudis are interested in stopping attacks on its own soil by the Houthis. A Houthi source in Sanaa told Middle East Eye that the current talks are not part of the Stockholm agreement.'Saudi Arabia is pursuing a truce to protect its land and its people'"The Stockholm agreement was between the Houthis and Hadi’s government, but now the negotiations are between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia,” he said, on condition of anonymity."

The Hadi government is opting to still demand unconditional, indefinite rule over the whole of Yemen. However, the Saudis may be anxious for a deal with the Houthis that could involve some sort of power-sharing elements as well. Even an agreement for free elections could reduce any control of the Hadi government as its unpopularity in many places caused the Houthi rebellion in the first place.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Houthi rebels in Yemen claim to have captured thousands of Saudi troops

(Sept. 28)The Houthis in Yemen who are engaged in a civil war with a coalition led by the Saudis claim they have carried out a successful attack near the southern region of Najran Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi attack

A recent article reports: "The Houthis’ military spokesman said in a statement that three “enemy military brigades had fallen” in the attack, which he said was launched 72 hours ago and supported by the group’s drone, missile and air defense units. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV quoted the spokesman as saying the Iran-aligned movement had captured “thousands” of enemy troops, including many officers and soldiers of the Saudi army, as well as hundreds of armored vehicles. "

The Houthis claim as well that there were senior Saudi officers among those who had been captured. The Houthi spokesperson said that evidence of the captured troops and equipment would be presented in a press conference on Sunday September 29th. The spokesperson also said that the captured troops would be taken to a secret location to avoid them being subject to Saudi airstrikes.

Houthis offered a truce with the Saudis

As a recent report notes: "The Houthis said on Sept. 20 they would halt missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia if the alliance stopped its operations. The coalition has yet to respond to the proposal."

Actually the Saudi response was to continue attacks on the Houthis: "Seven children were among 16 people killed Tuesday, September 24 in twin air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in southern Yemen, an official and a doctor said.“Sixteen people, including women and children, were killed and nine others injured” in a coalition air raid targeting a residence in Daleh province, the local official told AFP on condition of anonymity.A doctor at Al Thawra hospital in Ibb province where the bodies were taken said seven children and four women were among the dead." So the response of the Saudis at least at first was to ignore the offer and continue attacks.

Saudis say they will accept a "limited cease fire"

In what may be a belated response to the Houthis offer of a cease fire the Saudis have offered their own limited cease fire: "Saudi Arabia has agreed to a limited cease-fire in several areas of Yemen including the capital Sana’a, which is controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, as part of broader efforts to end a four-year conflict that has threatened to escalate into regional war.A Yemeni government official and a diplomat said attempts were underway to expand the truce. Saudi officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment."

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities that severely impacted Saudi oil output. However, the US has blamed Iran for the attacks. The Saudis may believe that they have suffered sufficient losses already in the war. They also face conflict with southern separatists supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who have seized control of the port of Aden and adjacent territory. Nevertheless the US has responded to the attack on the oil facilities by sending more troops and military equipment to Saudi Arabia.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Al Qaeda leader insists it fights along with US-supported Sunni groups in Yemen

The leader of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) claims that his group fights alongside Sunni fighters loyal to the government of Mansour Al-Hadi supported by the United States as well as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

AQAP leader Qasim al-Rimi told the group's media arm al-Malahem that his followers were de facto aligned with an array of forces in the complex conflict saying: “We fight alongside all Muslims in Yemen, together with different Islamic groups,” he said, including “the Muslim Brotherhood and also our brothers among the sons of (Sunni) tribes.” These alliances are all fighting against the Shia Houthi rebels who are supported by Iran. However, AQAP along with the Islamic State members in Yemen have also attacked the Hadi government now located in the southern port city of Aden. The Hadi government formerly in exile in Saudi Arabia has conquered much of the south of Yemen whereas the Houthis still control the north and west including the capital Sanaa.

The Hadi government appears to tolerate AQAP in areas where it is cooperating with local Sunni groups to fight against the Houthis. The US does give aid to to the Hadi government in terms of refueling planes and also providing intelligence and no doubt weapons:While al-Rimi did not elaborate on what he meant by “alongside”, many Sunni tribal militias, as well as the pan-Arab Muslim Brotherhood movement and conservative Salafis, are allied to the exiled Yemeni government fighting against Shia rebels known as Houthis who seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014. The militias receive extensive funding and arms from the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition, which has supported President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi with air strikes and ground troops since March 2015.AQAP was formed in 2009 after the merger of smaller jihadist groups. It has formed alliances with many Sunni tribes around the country. AQAP has taken advantage of the civil war to extend its influence in many areas controlled by the Hadi government.

The U.S. has always regarded AQAP as an enemy and it has been a key target of drone strikes in the country for long before Trump took power. Al-Rimi has a bounty on his head of $5 million. Since Trump took power the U.S. involvement in Yemen as increased considerably. As discussed in a recent Digital Journal article there were more than 80 drone strikes during March and April. Just after taking office Trump approved a commando raid on an alleged AQAP base. Supposedly it was targeting Al-Rimi but failed to get him. While called a success by the Trump administration a Navy Seal was killed and numerous civilians killed as discussed in a recent Digital Journal article.

The Pentagon apparently would like to join the Saudis in capturing the last port on the Red Sea held by the Houthis Hodeidah. Not all in the U.S. Congress agree: A new open letter from a bipartisan group of Congressmen has called on Defense Secretary James Mattis to “reconsider” the push for involvement, warning that support for the war was never authorized by Congress, and that the U.S. shouldn’t participates in the “senseless humanitarian tragedy.”

Yemen’s civil war has killed more than 10,000 people to date and left more than half of its 27 million strong population reliant on food aid. The international community has condemned the Saudi Arabian bombing campaign, which is thought to be responsible for most civilian deaths. The UN has warned that only half of the $2.1 billion in funding needed to avert catastrophe has been pledged so far. Taking of the port of Hodeidah from the Houthis will make it even more difficult to send supplies to areas controlled by them where the need is greatest.

US may increase aid to Saudia Arabia to help in its war in Yemen

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis met on Wednesday with Saudi officials. American officials suggested as the meeting took place that the U.S. might provide additional military and intelligence assistance to the Saudis.

Mattis made a two-day trip to the Saudi capital Riyadh. He called for a political solution to the war against the rebel Houthis supported by forces loyal to the former president Saleh. The war has lasted more than two years. However, he also said that military pressure might be needed to help end the conflict. The war began when Houthi rebels from the north backed by Iran and also former president Saleh drove then leader Mansour Hadi from the capital Sanaa in February of 2015. Hadi went into exile in Saudi Arabia. However, a coalition led by the Saudis and supported by many Gulf States, the U.S., the U.K., and Canada have managed to retake much of the south of Yemen including the port of Aden where the former government now is established again. The conflict has not only created a humanitarian disaster with many displaced internally and externally but has allowed the radical Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to thrive and take control of more territory. Athough it has primarily fought against the Houthis often in cooperation with local Sunni tribes it also opposes and has attacked the Hadi government both before the civil war and since.

The U.S. support for the Saudis includes arms sales, refueling of aircraft and supplying intelligence and also cluster bombs. The Saudis have been accused of targeting civilians, and have often hit school and hospitals. Two child advocacy groups, Save the Children and Watchlist on Children in Armed Conflict called on the UN to put Saudi Arabia on its list of countries violating child rights. Saudi Arabia was briefly on such a list back in June last year but was quickly removed after pressure on the UN. In March of 2016 the Netherland's parliament was the first to halt selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. According to the two groups the Saudis had targeted medical facilities and blocked aid from reaching Yemenis. The group also said that numbers severely malnourished in the country had tripled since the conflict began.

Saudi Arabia is contemplating an attack on the port city of Al Hudaydah, controlled by the Houthis, even though this could make the humanitarian situation even worse as much aid comes in through the port. Seventy percent of the country is estimated to be in need of aid. Jamie McGoldrick, the UN coordinator for Yemen said that the port was the only one the UN could use to assist much of the country's needy population. Mattis did not mention the port while he visited Riyadh. If the Houthis lose the port the Saudis can attempt to starve the Houthis and force the areas they control to submit. A recent article suggests that the US may help the Saudi coalition to capture the port as does another article.

Mattis said when he started talks with bin Salman, Deputy Crown Prince: "It is in our interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia. What we can do here today could actually open the door possibly to bringing our president to Saudi Arabia." One of the steps that the Trump administration might easily take is to lift the freeze on delivery of precision guided bombs to the Saudis. The Obama administration had blocked the transfer last December due to growing concerns of civilian casualties in the war in Yemen. The shipment was worth $390 million. The U.S. could provide more drone and aircraft for reconnaissance missions. An anonymous official claimed that the U.S. would not commit to sending more troops to Yemen.

The U.S. could intensify air operations or boost humanitarian aid but fighting the IS was "our number one concern" according to an American defence official. This makes little sense. The main target of the U.S. drone campaign has been Al Qaeda in the Arabia Peninsula AQAP. The Islamic State is still a minor player in Yemen. Trump has increased the number of drone attacks by 400 percent over Obama who in turn had launched many more attacks than Bush. He also launched a commando attack in Yemen in late January that killed one Navy Seal and a number of civilians. A recent Yemen drone attack is described as killing four suspected Al-Qaeda members.

The U.S. is most concerned about the influence of Iran in the region. Iran supports the rebel Houthis who are Shia. Mattis said: “Everywhere you look, if there's trouble in the region, you find Iran.” Earlier he said that the U.S. must help the Saudi resistance to Iranian mischief. Everywhere you look in the Middle East where there is trouble you find the U.S. Not just in Yemen but in Bahrain where the US supports the repression of the Shia majority. Although Secretary of State Rex Tillerson admitted that Iran was upholding its nuclear agreement earlier he said he was concerned about Tehran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and also backing groups that strengthen the state of Israel. He also said that Iran was launching cyberattacks. Of course there is no mention of Stuxnet.

There has been opposition to increased U.S. involvement in Yemen in the U.S. Congress. On April 6th four members of the U.S. Senate, including Senator Rand Paul, introduced a bill calling for Trump to block the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia until it was clear that the country was taking steps to avoid civilian deaths and was allowing aid into opposition areas. Also, 31 members of the House of Representatives wrote too Mattis and Tillerson requesting Saudi Arabia to release full details of its bombing plan. On April 11, 55 members of the House wrote to Trump demanding that the U.S. stop refueling Saudi planes. It is unlikely that such demands will be met. There may be some opposition to actions that help out the military-industrial complex while causing civilian deaths but the Saudis are considered strong U.S. allies and arm-makers create jobs.

US blocks attempt by UN to investigate Saudi-led bombings' civilian deaths

The Saudi-led bombing of Yemen that began last March has not only created a great deal of property damage and displaced thousands of people — it has also resulted in many civilian casualties.

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Two recent incidents have resulted in a demand from several sources for an independent inquiry. In one incident, Saudi helicopters are reported to have attacked a village in the north of Yemen killing 30 civilians. In another missile attack on a wedding party, the Guardian reports 131 civilians killed.

At the UN, the Netherlands pushed for a UN investigation into the incidents. However, after the Saudis complained, the US and several other western countries instead voted in favour of a Saudi resolution that would empower their own forces to investigate themselves. The White House said it was "deeply concerned," "shocked and saddened" by reports of the civilian casualties and urged the Saudi-led coalition carrying out the bombing to be precise in its targeting. Ned Price, the White House National Security Council spokesperson said: "We take all credible accounts of civilian deaths very seriously and again call on all sides of the conflict in Yemen to do their utmost to avoid harm to civilians and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.We call for an investigation into these reported civilian casualties and for the findings to be reported publicly."

Unlike the Netherlands' resolution, the Saudi resolution would have the coalition do the investigating:The Saudi text calls for an investigation, but empowers the Saudi-led coalition to conduct that investigation, only calling on the UN to offer support to them with “technical assistance,” and then only to the extent they request it.The Saudis have already made it perfectly clear that they deny they had anything to do with the wedding carnage. They say they can prove they made no attacks at the time. The Saudi response to the helicopter incident is similar: A Saudi official said the coalition had played no role in any attack in the area."This is totally false news. We deny it," the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters, adding that no coalition helicopters operated so far from the border.

As the appended video shows, the Saudi-led coalition evidently has used cluster bombs supplied by the United States in some of its missions. There is an international treating banning the use of the weapons but neither the US nor the Saudis have signed it.

Saudi-led bombing in Yemen exacerbates the humanitarian disaster

Hodeida - White House National Security Council spokesperson Alistair Baskey said that the US is very concerned over recent Saudi-led air strikes on the Yemeni port city of Hodeida in Yemen.

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The port is used by the UN as a key entrance to deliver aid to areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels. The strikes that are supposedly aimed at the Houthi rebels in control of Hodeida, reportedly killed dock workers and damaged infrastructure needed for the port to function properly. Baskey said:"We are deeply concerned by the August 18 attack on critical infrastructure at the port of Hodeida in Yemen.The port is a crucial lifeline used to provide medicine, food and fuel to Yemen's population."Saudi bombing has before interfered with delivery of aid. In the capital the runway at the Sanaa airport was bombed to prevent an Iranian aid plane from landing. The Saudis suspected the plane carried military equipment. However, the bombing prevented UN aid planes from landing as well.

The bombing of Hodeida has been criticized also by the EU and the UN. A UN aid official told the UN Security Council that the attacks were 'in clear contravention of international humanitarian law'. Stephen O'brien who is head of UN aid said that the raids could severely impact an already deepening humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Almost 80 percent of Yemen's population of 26 million are now in need of aid with more than a million forced to leave their homes because of the conflict. After more than 150 days of conflict, nearly 4,500 have been killed since the Saudi-led air campaign began. Hospitals and rescue teams have been targeted making it too dangerous in some instances for medical aid agencies to help. At the same, medical facilities lack critical supplies. Even in Aden, recently retaken by forces loyal to the Hadi government-in-exile the situation is so bad that the Red Cross has withdrawn its personnel because of the security situation. Part of Aden is now under control of fighters from Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula.

The UN health agency notes that nearly half of Yemen's health facilities have simply shut down leaving wounded civilians fewer and fewer places to receive treatment. In contested areas such as the central city of Taiz the situation is drastic. Dr. Ahmed Shadout of WHO said: “In Taiz, the ongoing crisis has led to the closure of many health facilities and access to health facilities for the injured civilians and doctors is almost becoming impossible; shortages of basic and lifesaving medicines, medical supplies, laboratory reagents in the health facilities are fast dwindling with limited access for replenishing,”Funds for WHO operations are meagre with the organization receiving only $25 million of $132 million it had requested.

The Saudis have targeted residential areas in some instances most recently in Taiz and Hodeida.The Saudis have also been accused of using cluster bombs in some bombing attacks. While there is an international treaty banning their use, neither the US nor Saudi Arabia have signed on to the treaty. A Pentagon official told US News that "the US is aware that Saudi Arabia has used cluster munitions in Yemen". The US considers the bombs a legitimate military weapon.

Fierce fight in Yemen for key city of Taiz as Houthi rebels lose ground

Although early reports claimed forces loyal to the Yemen government-in-exile had retaken Taiz, it appears only parts of the city are under their control.

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Taiz is the third largest city in Yemen and has been called "the gateway to Sanaa," the capital which is still occupied by the Houthi rebels. An entire 24 hours of fighting has killed at least 81 people, 50 Houthis and 31 loyal to the Saudi-based government-in-exile of President Hadi. The civilian toll in the fighting is unknown. The loyalists are backed by Saudi air strikes. The city has been contested for some time.

Recent reports indicate the loyalist forces captured intelligence headquarters in the city and also command a mountaintop nearby that they had captured earlier. However, Houthis and their allies are said to still occupy two military bases in the city. With the advance of the Saudi-supported forces throughout the south following the capture of Aden, the country increasingly looks to be divided between a north held by Houthis and their allies and the south that is held by forces loyal to the Hadi government. Many of the local militia in the south fighting the Houthis belong to the Southern Movement that will demand more autonomy or even independence for the south. In the past the south was a separate state the Republic of South Yemen with unification taking place in May 1990. The Saudi-led coalition has provided forces supporting Hadi modern heavy equipment, including tanks and armoured personnel carriers. Some Yemeni soldiers have been trained in Saudi Arabia.

The governor of the recaptured southern port city of Aden said that the city would be declared the capital of Yemen for the next five years. He also said it would be the focus of reconstruction in that period. This declaration has led some analysts to wonder if the Hadi government considers that it may take a half decade to regain control of the northern areas and the capital. The southern movement may attempt to convince the Hadi government that the south should be independent again. When in power, Hadi had been in conflict with the southern movement. The southern movement militia may not have the same agenda as the Hadi government-in-exile.

So far the civil war has killed more than 4,300 people, many civilians. It has spread disease and hunger throughout the country creating a humanitarian disaster. Recent bombings have resulted in more civilian casualties.