31 civilians Killed in Saudi-UAE-led Air Strikes in Yemen

New Delhi, February 16, 2020:

Thirty-one people have been reportedly killed in air strikes on Yemen. Houthis, the Yemeni rebels, have accused the Saudi-led coalition of launching retaliatory airstrikes, after they shot down a warplane for coalition over Jawf province.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande said, “Preliminary field reports indicate that on 15 February as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit Al-Hayjah area ... in Al-Jawf governorate.”

ALSO READ: Assam: Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary Reportedly Insulted at Filmfare Awards, Leaves

“So many people are being killed in Yemen – it’s a tragedy and it’s unjustified. Under international humanitarian law parties which resort to force are obligated to protect civilians,” Grande added.

Calling the air strikes as “shocking”, the coordinator further said that five years into this conflict and belligerents are still failing to uphold this responsibility.

ALSO READ: Assam Singer Manas Robin Seeks Bollywood's Help to Fight against CAA, Detained

According to rebel TV station Al-Masirah several women and children were among the dead and wounded. It also added that there were multiple coalition air strikes in the area where the plane went down.

The Houthi rebels released footage of what they called the launch of their “advanced surface-to-air missile”. “The downing of a Tornado in the sky above Al-Jawf is a major blow to the enemy and an indication of remarkable growth in Yemeni [rebel] air defence capabilities,” Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam tweeted.

ALSO READ: Assam: ABSU Ceases Separate State Bodoland Demand

It may be mentioned here that the province of Jawf has been mostly controlled by the Houthis, but its capital remains in the hands of the Saudi-backed government.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.