Saudi Airstrike Hits Busload of Civilians in Yemen; At Least 17 Killed

Attack targeted vehicles at crowded checkpoint

Concerns about Saudi war crimes in Yemen continue to mount, with large numbers of civilians once again finding themselves the target of Saudi warplanes. On Saturday, the Saudi airstrike targeted vehicles at a crowded checkpoint near the vital port city of Hodeidah.

The strike damaged several vehicles, but directly hit a crowded bus, destroying it and killing all within. Early reports are that 17 civilians are dead and 20 wounded, though the death toll is expected to rise further.

Saudi officials have yet to comment on why the bus was hit. This is just the latest in a series of incidents where Saudi airstrikes have hit buses loaded with civilians, killing many. Tribal leaders said that a family of eight was among the people on the bus, and that the victims included many women and children.

The port through which roughly 70% of all food aid flows in Yemen, Hodeidah has seen an exodus of civilians in recent weeks, owing to attacks by Saudi and UAE forces. As fighting grows, there are growing concerns that the port will be cut off entirely, leading to a famine across Yemen’s north, impacting millions.

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.