Local Editor

UNESCO condemned the Saudi-led air strike on the old quarter of the Yemeni capital of Sana’a on Friday which it described as "one of the world’s oldest jewels" of Islamic culture.

UNESCO director general, Irina Bokova, said that, "I am profoundly distressed by the loss of human lives as well as by the damage inflicted on one of the world’s oldest jewels of Islamic urban landscape".

"This destruction will only exacerbate the humanitarian situation and I reiterate my call to all parties to respect and protect cultural heritage in Yemen," she said.

Bokova said she was "shocked by the images of these magnificent many-storeyed tower-houses and serene gardens reduced to rubble".

"The historic value and memories enshrined in these sites have been irreparably damaged or destroyed", she further said. 

The air strike by the Saudi-led coalition on the old city killed five people on Friday and destroyed three houses in the UNESCO-listed heritage site.

The old city has already suffered some damage from the US-led Saudi aggression’s air strikes on nearby targets, including the defence ministry, prompting a protest from UNESCO in May.

Also this month [June], UNESCO condemned the US-led Saudi aggression’s air strikes on May 31 that hit the ancient Great Dam of Marib, which was first built in the 8th century BC.

The UN body said the attack on the dam came a week after the national museum in Dhamar, in central Yemen, was "completely destroyed".