Saudi Airstrike Kills 12 Civilians in North Yemen

Civilians Were Traveling to a Local Market When Their Truck Was Destroyed

Adding to the growing list of civilians slain in Saudi airstrikes across Yemen since last year’s invasion, 12 more civilians were killed when a Saudi warplane destroyed the truck they were traveling in in the northern Hajjah Province.

The civilians were traveling to a nearby marketplace from a village when they were attacked. There is no hint as to why the vehicle was targeted, and Saudi forces have so far not commented publicly on this latest incident.

It is not unusual, however, for vehicles in general in rural Yemen to be targeted, as the fuel shortage caused by the Saudi naval blockade since last year. The assumption seems to be anyone who still has a functioning vehicle and fuel this far into the war must be up to no good.

Hajjah is mostly controlled by the Shi’ite Houthis, as is most of northern Yemen. These areas have been repeatedly targeted by Saudi airstrikes throughout the war, and throughout the conflict Saudi forces have been repeatedly faulted for not taking much care in who they are actually killing on the ground.

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.