Yemen war: Children killed in air strike on bus

The Red Cross said a hospital it supports in Saada had received dozens of casualties
Dozens of people, many of them children, have been killed or wounded in a Saudi-led coalition air strike in rebel-held northern Yemen.

The bus was travelling through Dahyan market in Saada province at the time.

The health ministry run by the rebel Houthi movement said at least 43 people were killed. The Red Cross said most of the victims were under 10 years old.

The coalition, which is backing Yemen's government in a war with the Houthis, said its actions were "legitimate".

"[The air strike] conformed to international and humanitarian laws," spokesman Col Turki al-Malki said in a statement.

He added that the coalition had responded to ballistic missile launches by the rebels, which he said had targeted civilians in the southern Saudi city of Jizan.

The coalition has insisted it never deliberately targets civilians but human rights groups have accused it of bombing markets, schools, hospitals and residential areas over the past three years.

In a message on Twitter, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Yemen said a hospital it supports in Saada had received dozens of casualties on Thursday.

The head of the ICRC's delegation in the country later said "scores" had been killed, with many casualties under the age of 10. He added that the organisation was sending additional supplies to hospitals in the area.

The ICRC's communication co-ordinator in Yemen confirmed the reports to the BBC but did not offer any further details.

Almost 10,000 people - two-thirds of them civilians - have been killed since the Houthi movement took control of much of the north of the country, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014, forcing President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi into exile in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

The following year, a coalition of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia intervened in the conflict.

Earlier this year, the UN children's agency UNICEF said that more than 5,000 children had been killed or injured during the conflict, with "nearly every child in Yemen" in need of humanitarian assistance.

Visiting Mecca is not some endorsement of Saudi Arabia's atrocities Baron.

Saudi Arabia didn't even exist when the revelation commanding muslims to perform the Hajj was revealed.

I think if you asked most muslims, they would disapprove of Saudi Arabia being the sole protector of the kaaba - and would instead prefer it to be under some non-aligned international Islamic body.

cods wrote on Aug 15^th, 2018 at 5:59pm:


Probably because they share the Saudi's fear of Iranian influence through their shiite proxies - including the Houthis. Several arab countries have joined in the massacre of Yemeni children. I imagine the geopolitical maneuverings of these governments has filtered through to some degree to the masses - especially the sunni ones.

As for Israel, most arab countries adopt a position of convenient hypocricy. Make a lot of official noise that they know has no effect, but behind the scenes give a wink and a nod to their atrocities. For one thing, they know Israel exists as a potential bulwark against Iranian expansion. Interestingly, ISIS has never done or said anything against Israel.

cods wrote on Aug 15^th, 2018 at 5:59pm:


Probably because they share the Saudi's fear of Iranian influence through their shiite proxies - including the Houthis. Several arab countries have joined in the massacre of Yemeni children. I imagine the geopolitical maneuverings of these governments has filtered through to some degree to the masses - especially the sunni ones.

As for Israel, most arab countries adopt a position of convenient hypocricy. Make a lot of official noise that they know has no effect, but behind the scenes give a wink and a nod to their atrocities. For one thing, they know Israel exists as a potential bulwark against Iranian expansion. Interestingly, ISIS has never done or said anything against Israel.

Mattyfisk wrote on Aug 29^th, 2018 at 10:59pm:

Indeed eteernal.
Well, it has NEVER been any other way with these bastards, they have been killing each other since Mo carked it.

And since the Koran is the eternal, unchangeable word of some guy called Allan, the feud has been decreed, as far as the Mohammedans understand it, for/from eternity. Evolving, evolution, moving on, higher plain - all dirty dog words for the true Mohammedan, Allan be praised.

Had a touch of the Pakis for a minute. Passed now, thanks.