Saudi warplanes carried out an attack against the Yemeni capital city of Sana’a today, attacking the presidential palace and leveling it to the ground. Six people were killed in the strike, who were identified as civilians by local officials. Though early reports suggested Houthi officials may have been in the presidential palace, subsequent reports suggest this was not the case.
In addition to destroying the palace, a number of nearby businesses were badly damaged. At least 30 civilians were wounded in the surrounding area, with some reports suggesting the casualties could be far higher.
While the casualties weren’t nearly as high as some other Saudi airstrikes, they still provoked a lot of international criticism. The Norwegian Refugee Council, an aid group operating in Yemen, said they were “appalled” by the Saudis attacking such a highly crowded business district in the middle of the day.
That may be a particular problem for the Saudis, as this district is not just a crowded business district, but one of the richer ones in northern Yemen. This is an area that would, in times of peace, be frequented by foreign diplomats and businessmen, and features a five-star hotel.
Saudi Arabia is screaming as loud as it can — US, please condemn us and this war, so we can get out if ot. It is plain and clear thst Saudi Arabia has zero value in this war. It cannot occupy the country, it is impossible. What on earth is it pursuing. Nothing. US wants controlbif Yemen, the whole Yemen, not only its Siuthern part. Just like it wants Somalia snd is hanging in to a base in Djibuti. It wanrs control of Bab Al-Mandeb, a straight that opens Red Sea to Indian Ocean. This way, it will control Suez Canal in Egypt, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, by controling access to Red Sea. This is why US us hanging on to a patch of Syria and Iraq. Not to prevent nefarious Iran to get to Mediterranean, but to block Eurasian traffic from Far East, Central Asia, Russia, to connect railroads, roads and mive goods accross Asia and Middle East, in to Europe and Africa, unmollested by US “protection” of the “freedom” of navigation. If the inly business we are in is preventing others to develop, “contain” this or that country, means that thevruling elite is protecting their model of making money. But it will not work. All countries are sick and tired of chaos and promotion of terrorists, regime changes, “wars” on drugs, “wars” on corruption, ir any other real or fictitious war. America can easily compete, collaborate or participate in global development, not fight it. And get wealthy in the process. But neicons are committed to one path alone — path of blocking and threatening. To stop Yemen war it would be to admit a failure. Admit inability to control access to Red Sea, and being able to jerk the chains ofbthree countries that depend on it. Yes, US can block the straights, but it wiuld rather tarnish the image of the defender of the freedom of navigation. But Yemen, defeated and ibedient would do that so much better.
No matter what Saudi Arabia does, starves the people, bonbs weddings, funerals, hospitals and now a oresidential palace in the middle of the day and in a busy residential partnof the town — US will not say stop. Just the opposite. More US forces are actally on the ground then before. Saudi Arabia needs to figure this one out — and find the way out.
To think that the F/UK/US gang pretend to be so shocked by an alleged nerve gas failed poisoning in the UK, then bomb a research center in Damascus to “punish” Syria for an alleged chemical attack reported by the White Helmets, yet support the worst régimes in the region with WMD and air power, destroying the poorest country in the region and even trying to blame Iran for “interfering”, since Bibi said so.