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| UN report into Saudi-led strikes in Yemen raises questions over UK role | UN report into Saudi-led strikes in Yemen raises questions over UK role |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A United Nations panel investigating the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen has uncovered widespread attacks on civilian targets in violation of international humanitarian law, raising questions over UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the role of British military advisers. | A United Nations panel investigating the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen has uncovered widespread attacks on civilian targets in violation of international humanitarian law, raising questions over UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the role of British military advisers. |
| The 51-page report by a panel of experts on Yemen, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian, has not yet been published. A copy was sent to the UN security council last week. | The 51-page report by a panel of experts on Yemen, a copy of which has been obtained by the Guardian, has not yet been published. A copy was sent to the UN security council last week. |
| In one of the key findings, the report says: “The panel documented that the coalition had conducted airstrikes targeting civilians and civilian objects, in violation of international humanitarian law, including camps for internally displaced persons and refugees; civilian gatherings, including weddings; civilian vehicles, including buses; civilian residential areas; medical facilities; schools; mosques; markets, factories and food storage warehouses; and other essential civilian infrastructure, such as the airport in Sana’a, the port in Hudaydah and domestic transit routes.” | In one of the key findings, the report says: “The panel documented that the coalition had conducted airstrikes targeting civilians and civilian objects, in violation of international humanitarian law, including camps for internally displaced persons and refugees; civilian gatherings, including weddings; civilian vehicles, including buses; civilian residential areas; medical facilities; schools; mosques; markets, factories and food storage warehouses; and other essential civilian infrastructure, such as the airport in Sana’a, the port in Hudaydah and domestic transit routes.” |
| It adds: “The panel documented 119 coalition sorties relating to violations of international humanitarian law.” | It adds: “The panel documented 119 coalition sorties relating to violations of international humanitarian law.” |
| Related: Human rights groups condemn steep rise in UK arms sales to Saudis | Related: Human rights groups condemn steep rise in UK arms sales to Saudis |
| Saudi Arabia, one of the biggest buyers of UK defence equipment, including planes, began bombing in Yemen in March last year in support of the Yemeni president, who was under threat from Houthi forces aligned with Iran. | Saudi Arabia, one of the biggest buyers of UK defence equipment, including planes, began bombing in Yemen in March last year in support of the Yemeni president, who was under threat from Houthi forces aligned with Iran. |
| The UK has repeatedly rejected calls to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia, denying there are widespread human rights violations. It has also confirmed that British forces have been in the Saudi command and control centre for the strikes on Yemen, but denies that the forces have an operational role. | The UK has repeatedly rejected calls to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia, denying there are widespread human rights violations. It has also confirmed that British forces have been in the Saudi command and control centre for the strikes on Yemen, but denies that the forces have an operational role. |
| The UN panel findings will increase the pressure on David Cameron to suspend sales to the Saudis. In a ministerial statement in March 2014, the UK government said explicitly that it “will … not grant a licence if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law”. | The UN panel findings will increase the pressure on David Cameron to suspend sales to the Saudis. In a ministerial statement in March 2014, the UK government said explicitly that it “will … not grant a licence if there is a clear risk that the items might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law”. |
| The report, after stating directly that the airstrikes are in violation of international humanitarian law, says: “Many attacks involved multiple airstrikes on multiple civilian objects. Of the 119 sorties, the panel identified 146 targeted objects. The panel also documented three alleged cases of civilians fleeing residential bombings and being chased and shot at by helicopters.” | |
| One of the panel’s main recommendations is the establishment of an investigation into its findings, “with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable”. | |
| The panel could not obtain entry to Yemen but used satellite imagery to look at areas before and after bombings. “The imagery revealed extensive damage to residential areas and civilian objects as a result of internal fighting and coalition airstrikes,” the report says. | The panel could not obtain entry to Yemen but used satellite imagery to look at areas before and after bombings. “The imagery revealed extensive damage to residential areas and civilian objects as a result of internal fighting and coalition airstrikes,” the report says. |
| Related: Yemen: the devastation of a nation, largely ignored | Stephen Twigg | Related: Yemen: the devastation of a nation, largely ignored | Stephen Twigg |
| It adds: “Alongside ground-led obstructions to humanitarian distribution, the panel documented 10 coalition airstrikes on transportation routes (both sea and air routes), four road supply routes and five storage facilities for holding food aid (including two vehicles carrying aid and three warehouses and facilities storing food), along with airstrikes on an Oxfam warehouse storing equipment for a water project funded by the European Union in Sana’a. The panel also documented three coalition attacks on local food and agricultural production sites.” | It adds: “Alongside ground-led obstructions to humanitarian distribution, the panel documented 10 coalition airstrikes on transportation routes (both sea and air routes), four road supply routes and five storage facilities for holding food aid (including two vehicles carrying aid and three warehouses and facilities storing food), along with airstrikes on an Oxfam warehouse storing equipment for a water project funded by the European Union in Sana’a. The panel also documented three coalition attacks on local food and agricultural production sites.” |
| At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for a review of the UK’s arms export licences, and for them to be suspended in the meantime. | |
| Cameron replied: “We have the strictest rules for arms exports for almost any country anywhere in the world.” | |
| Referring to the UN panel report, Cameron said: “I will look at this report as I look at all other reports but our arms exports are carefully controlled and we are backing the legitimate government of Yemen.” | |
| He said terror acts launched in Yemen were a threat to the UK, adding: “I refuse to run a foreign policy by press release, I want a foreign policy in the interests of the British.” | |
| The British government has said UK personnel are not directly involved in Saudi-led coalition operations, only supporting Saudi forces through previously existing arrangements. | |
| The parliamentary committee on arms exports controls, which might have been investigating the Yemen bombing, is still to be established. |