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Yemen civilian deaths amount to 'war crimes' says Amnesty Yemen conflict: Civilian deaths 'amount to war crimes'
(about 9 hours later)
Saudi-led air strikes against rebels in Yemen have left a "bloody train of civilian death", according to a report from Amnesty International. All sides in the conflict in Yemen have left a "trial of civilian death and destruction" and may have committed war crimes, Amnesty International says.
Saudi Arabia and its allies have been carrying out air raids against the Houthi militia, loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, since 26 March. A report documents hundreds of cases in which people have been killed or injured in their homes since March.
More than 4,000 people have died in the conflict - half of them civilians. It accuses the Saudi-led coalition aiming to restore the exiled government of carrying out unlawful air strikes.
Amnesty's report said "all parties may have committed war crimes." The Houthi rebel movement and its allies are meanwhile condemned for using heavy weapons indiscriminately.
The 30-page-document investigates eight coalition airstrikes during June and July, which killed 141 people - mainly women and children. On Tuesday, coalition warplanes targeted Houthi positions in the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, reportedly destroying cranes and warehouses at the aid hub.
It claims to reveal a pattern of raids targeting heavily-populated sites, including a mosque, a school and a market. In the majority of cases, no military target could be located nearby, it adds. There were also clashes overnight in the third city of Taiz, where the Houthis and allied army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh have made advances.
"The report depicts in harrowing detail the gruesome and bloody trail of death and destruction in Taiz and Aden from unlawful attacks, which may amount to war crimes, by all parties," said Amnesty's Donatella Rovera. 'Deadly crossfire'
She said civilians were having to dodge crossfire between rebels and anti-Houthi fighters on the ground, as well as the Saudi-led air strikes. The UN says that since the coalition began its bombing campaign on 26 March, at least 1,950 civilians have been killed and 4,271 wounded in air strikes and fighting.
The report also details 30 attacks by the Houthis and the armed groups they are battling in the southern cities of Aden and Taiz. Amnesty's 30-page report documents eight air strikes that took place in June and July and resulted in the deaths of 141 people, mostly women and children.
They too targeted densely populated areas, "displaying utter disregard for the safety of civilians", added Ms Rovera. The human rights group said the evidence gathered had revealed a pattern of raids targeting heavily-populated sites, including a mosque, a school and a market. In the majority of cases, no military target could be located nearby, it added.
Amnesty called on the United Nations to establish an international commission of inquiry to investigate "alleged war crimes". Amnesty also investigated 30 attacks on the ground in the second city of Aden and in Taiz by the Houthis and anti-Houthi armed groups, which left 68 civilians dead.
The Houthis overran the capital Sanaa last September and went on to seize most of the country. Fighters from both parties routinely used imprecise weapons including Grad-type rockets, mortars and artillery fire in densely-populated residential areas, displaying utter disregard for the safety of civilians, the group found.
President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi was forced to flee Aden for Saudi Arabia in March - prompting the oil-rich kingdom to launch its military campaign. Amnesty called on the UN Human Rights Council to create an international commission of inquiry to independently and impartially investigate alleged war crimes in Yemen.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has been described as "catastrophic" by the UN with 20 million civilians - 80% of the population - in need of aid.
Why is there fighting in Yemen?Why is there fighting in Yemen?
Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom?Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom?
Meeting the Houthis and their enemiesMeeting the Houthis and their enemies