Saudi warplanes attacked a marketplace in the Qatabir District of
northern Yemen’s Saada Province on Monday. The most recent reports are at least 14 civilians killed and 22 others wounded in the attack.
The Saada Province is a heavily Shi’ite province, which means it leans
strongly toward the Houthi movement, and is a common target for Saudi
airstrikes. These attacks have killed a disproportionately large number
of civilians.
And even though this market was in Houthi-controlled territory, the
Saudis are trying to blame the Houthis for the attack, with a spokesman
of the Saudi-led coalition insisting that the Houthis attacked their own
marketplace out of spite.
Hospital officials say that two children were among the slain and 11
children were among the wounded in the attack. That the Saudis are
trying to deflect blame suggests this was a strike that could prove
embarrassing, as generally when they kill civilians they either don’t
comment at all, or argue that the marketplace or hospital or school they
just bombed was a valid military target.
Saudi Airstrikes Hits North Yemen Market, Kills 14 Civilians
Saudis deny attack, claim Houthis attacked their own market out of spite
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.
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