Vol. 80/No. 40      October 24, 2016

 

US-backed Saudi forces bomb Yemen

 
U.S.-backed Saudi coalition forces carried out a deadly airstrike on a packed funeral hall in the Yemeni capital Sanaa Oct. 8, killing more than 140 and injuring as many as 600. Political and military figures associated with the Houthi-led government in Yemen were in the hall, which was destroyed.

Riyadh expressed “deep regret” for the funeral strike, but refused to admit responsibility. However, Riyadh and Washington control the only air forces in the vicinity.

The next day, two missiles were fired at U.S. naval destroyer USS Mason in the Red Sea, falling short. Washington said they came from Houthi-held territory and threatened to retaliate. A Houthi official denied responsibility. Several missiles were also fired into Saudi Arabia that same day.

The Saudi-led military coalition stepped up airstrikes in Yemen Aug. 9 after peace talks stalled. The coalition includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Sudan and other Middle Eastern countries. Washington backs the coalition with military intelligence, airborne fuel tankers and advanced munitions.

The civil war in Yemen began in January 2015 when Houthi militias, backed by Tehran, joined with forces loyal to deposed dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh. They occupied Sanaa and deposed the government of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. As they continued to advance south, the Saudi-led coalition intervened to back Hadi’s forces. The predominantly Sunni Middle Eastern regimes in the coalition were also reacting to Washington’s nuclear deal and closer relations with Tehran. The Houthis are Shiite Muslims based in northern Yemen.

At least 9,000 people have been killed in the civil war, including 3,800 civilians killed by coalition airstrikes, according to United Nations estimates. More than 3 million people are displaced and much of the country of 27 million is on the brink of famine due to a blockade of its ports by the Saudi-led forces.

Since 2009 the CIA and Pentagon have carried out dozens of drone strikes and special operations raids against al-Qaeda forces in central and southern Yemen, often killing civilians and bystanders.

Since March 2015 Washington has authorized more than $22 billion in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. The U.K. government approved sale of billions of dollars worth of jets, bombs and missiles in recent years.
 
 
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