saudiled coalition denies cluster bomb use in sanaa
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Saudi-led coalition denies cluster bomb use in Sanaa

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Saudi-led coalition denies cluster bomb use in Sanaa

Yemeni workers inspect the damage at a factory
Riyadh - Arab Today

The Saudi-led coalition bombing rebels in Yemen denied Sunday renewed accusations of dropping cluster munitions in the country after UN chief Ban Ki-moon said their use may be a "war crime".
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told AFP that the alliance "denies using cluster bombs in Sanaa", the Yemeni capital.

He was responding to a report issued Thursday by the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which quoted Sanaa residents describing a January 6 attack consistent with airdropped cluster bomb use.

Assiri said the coalition has admitted to previously using CBU-105 cluster bombs against rebel vehicles.

"Now they don't have any more vehicles so we don't use it," he said.

He described HRW's report as "very weak", adding that "they didn't show any evidence."

Assiri said the coalition didn't possess the specific munition detailed in the report, adding that 90 percent of coalition operations in Sanaa are directed against Scud missile launchers.

"You cannot use a cluster bomb against Scud launchers," Assiri said. "We have nothing to hide."

There has been widespread international concern about the high number of civilian casualties in Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition has been supporting Yemeni forces since March against Iran-backed Huthi rebels and their allies, who seized territory from the internationally-recognised government.

Cluster bombs contain multiple submunitions, which sometimes do not explode and become de facto landmines that can kill or maim long after they were dropped.

The weapons are prohibited by a 2008 treaty adopted by 116 countries, but not by Saudi Arabia, its coalition partners, or the United States.

On Friday UN chief Ban said he had received "troubling reports" of cluster bomb attacks in Sanaa.

"The use of cluster munitions in populated areas may amount to a war crime due to their indiscriminate nature," he said in a statement.

The office of the UN high commissioner for human rights said last week that its staff in Yemen had found remnants of 29 cluster bombs during a field visit to Yemen's Haradh district.

In its report, HRW showed a picture of what it said were BLU-63 submunitions from a CBU-58 cluster bomb.

Assiri called the report unprofessional and said the rights group did not contact the coalition.

"They collect information, I think, from the Huthi side," he said, referring to rebels.

"Showing this kind of photo doesn't mean it is in Sanaa (and) doesn't mean it is from the coalition."

Assiri said the coalition has been targeting missile launchers which have fired "indiscriminately" on the Saudi border regions of Jazan and Najran.

Around 90 civilians and soldiers have died from shelling and skirmishes in Saudi border regions since March when the coalition began air and ground action in Yemen.

More than 5,800 people have been killed in Yemen since March, about half of them civilians, according to the United Nations.
Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

saudiled coalition denies cluster bomb use in sanaa saudiled coalition denies cluster bomb use in sanaa

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

saudiled coalition denies cluster bomb use in sanaa saudiled coalition denies cluster bomb use in sanaa

 



GMT 18:03 2016 Sunday ,11 September

Low interest rates are a drag on US bank profits

GMT 10:11 2017 Thursday ,07 December

US lawmakers deny Democrat's bid to impeach Trump

GMT 12:58 2017 Sunday ,15 January

US 'hostility' grows despite nuclear deal

GMT 09:34 2017 Thursday ,19 October

Croatia court orders arrest of retail giant boss

GMT 22:40 2018 Friday ,05 January

Education Minister attends workshop

GMT 16:33 2012 Wednesday ,15 February

Second generation coupe

GMT 12:50 2017 Wednesday ,25 October

Irish star Zebo risks Test future over Racing move

GMT 03:32 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Sisi vows forceful response after mosque massacre

GMT 12:24 2017 Thursday ,02 February

Egyptians overjoyed by reaching AFCON 2017 final

GMT 19:58 2017 Saturday ,01 April

Lebanese Army Reports New Israeli Breach

GMT 21:24 2017 Thursday ,16 February

S. Korea's ICT Exports Increase in January
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday