Human Rights Watch Urges US, Allies to End Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia

© AFP 2023 / FAYEZ NURELDINE Saudi army artillery fire shells towards Yemen from a post close to the Saudi-Yemeni border, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, on April 13, 2015
Saudi army artillery fire shells towards Yemen from a post close to the Saudi-Yemeni border, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, on April 13, 2015 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Human Rights Watch announced that the US, British and French governments must halt all further arms sales to Saudi Arabia until the country ends its illegal air strikes on Yemen that have killed more than 500 civilians over the past year.

Houthi militant stands guard outside the house of court judge Yahya Rubaid after a Saudi-led air strike destroyed it, killing him, his wife and five other family members, in Yemen's capital Sanaa January 25, 2016. - Sputnik International
UK Probe Into Arms Use in Yemen Powerless to Change Saudi Arms Trade Policy
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US, British and French governments must halt all further arms sales to Saudi Arabia until the country ends its illegal air strikes on Yemen that have killed more than 500 civilians over the past year, a US-based human rights organization announced.

"The United States, United Kingdom, France and others should suspend all weapon sales to Saudi Arabia until it not only curtails its unlawful airstrikes in Yemen, but also credibly investigates alleged violations," Human Rights Watch said in a news release on Monday.

Since March 26, 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of mostly Arab countries has conducted military operations against the Houthi armed group in Yemen, and has carried out numerous indiscriminate and disproportionate airstrikes, Human Rights Watch stated.

"For the past year, governments that arm Saudi Arabia have rejected or downplayed compelling evidence that the coalition’s airstrikes have killed hundreds of civilians in Yemen," Human Rights Watch Deputy Global Advocacy Director Philippe Bolopion said in the release.

The airstrikes have continued despite the March 20 announcement of a new ceasefire, Human Rights Watch claimed, and the Saudi-led coalition has consistently failed to investigate alleged unlawful attacks.

Saudi Arabia has been the leader of the coalition, with targeting decisions made in the Saudi Defense Ministry in Riyadh, according to the release.

At least 3,200 civilians have been killed and 5,700 wounded since coalition military operations began, 60 percent of them in coalition airstrikes, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала