Local Editor
Saudi-led coalition airstrikes killed more than 30 civilians in a mountainous northern Yemeni province on Saturday, the UN humanitarian chief for the country said, calling the attack “shocking.”
Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement accused the Saudi-led coalition of launching the airstrikes after they shot down one of the coalition’s warplane conducting raids over the province of Jawf.
Saudi Arabia’s state-run news agency quoted Col. Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the coalition, as saying it was investigating “possible collateral damage” from a rescue operation in the area after the downing of the Tornado warplane late Friday.
Al-Maliki was quoted as saying the plane was providing air support for forces loyal to Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi fighting the Houthis.
He said the two-pilot crew of the Tornado managed to eject safely before the crash.
He did not say whether there were causalities or provide further details.
The UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, said “these terrible strikes” in al-Maslub district killed at least 31 civilians and wounded 12 others, according to preliminary field reports.
“So many people are being killed in Yemen — it’s a tragedy and it’s unjustified … Five years into this conflict, and belligerents are still failing to uphold this responsibility,” she said. “It’s shocking.”
She said many wounded were taken to hospitals in Jawf and Yemen’s capital, Sana’a.
Youssef al-Hadri, Yemen’s health ministry spokesman, said the airstrikes killed at least 32 people, including women and children
The Houthis released graphic images showing destroyed building and vehicles, as well as bodies. They also released footage allegedly showing the downing of the Saudi aircraft and its wreckage.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
