Saudis Continue to Block Yemen Aid Fights as Russia Urges Ceasefire

Saudis Still Blocking Red Cross Aid Flights

Leading the charge for a humanitarian ceasefire, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed dismay today at the Saudi attack on Yemen, and particularly the fact that it was carried out without any consultation of the UN.

Lavrov noted that the UN Security Council never addressed the Yemen issue, and that the Saudi attack has no legal justification in international law. He noted with annoyance that the Saudis only came to the Security Council after the attack had already begun.

The attacks are creating a growing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with Saudi forces blocking the Red Cross from delivering medical aid amid shortages exacerbated by the war.

Lavrov urged both sides to halt their fighting and head to the negotiating table, insisting there was no way the UN Security Council could unilaterally declare the Saudi war justified without a dialogue even attempted.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.