Saudi warplanes attacked a school bus in northern Yemen on Thursday, hitting the bus just as it was passing through a crowded marketplace. At least 50 civilians were killed in the attack, mostly schoolchildren, and 77 others were wounded.
Exact splits between children and people who were shopping at the market is not yet clear. The Red Cross, however, confirmed that “scores” of children were killed, saying that most of the victims were under the age of 10.
Reporters at the scene said it was unclear why the bus was targeted, noting that there are no military installations anywhere near the market. They added that this remote area of Saada Province has few hospitals, and the Saudi naval blockade has left them with no medicine, so the death toll is almost certain to rise.
UNICEF issued a statement condemning the attack, saying there could be “no excuses anymore,” and that the world shouldn’t need yet “more innocent children’s lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen.”
Saudi Arabian spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki was defiant about the attack on the busload of children, saying it was retaliation for a missile strike from the rebel Houthis. He said this made the attack a “legitimate military action in accordance with international humanitarian law.”
The Saudis are no strangers to killing scores of Yemeni children in airstrikes with no apparent military goal, and expressing comfort in that fact. At the same time, growing international outcry, as well as fury among Yemenis about the Saudis’ actions are soaring already. The fact that this was a high profile attack scattering the bodies of children across a crowded market is only going to make things worse.
The US sells bombs and warplanes to Saudi Arabia, and refuels planes like the ones that attacked the bus. Those wishing to protest this should call the State Dept. (202) 647-6575, press 8 for comment line. Say: I want the State Dept to condemn the Saudis for bombing Yemeni children and I want the US to stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi excuses sound as if they have learned from Israel.
I called that State Department number and pressed 8. I was told that the mailbox was full. I think we need to email them.
The United States of America! The shining beacon of democracy for all the world to behold! Freedumb and justice for all!
Everything is collateral damage in a holocaust.
“Reporters at the scene said it was unclear why the bus was targeted, noting that there are no military installations anywhere near the market.”
the bus was targeted because that’s the nature of Terrorism. to terrorize and kill innocent people.
the Saudi leadership are war criminals of the highest order, and should be arrested and tried for their crimes of the last 3 years in Yemen. and eternal shame on the US and the UK for backing these savages.
One can hope. But the Saudi war criminals are shielded by mountains of dollars.
“Reporters at the scene said it was unclear why the bus was targeted, noting that there are no military installations anywhere near the market.”
the bus was targeted because that’s the nature of Terrorism. to terrorize and kill innocent people.
the Saudi leadership are war criminals of the highest order, and should be arrested and tried for their crimes of the last 3 years in Yemen. and eternal shame on the US and the UK for backing these savages.
I believe that the Geneva conventions on warfare recognize co-killers.
The rest of the world knows of our complicity, even if our own media and government do everything they can to keep the American sheeple ignorant of the truth.
No condemnation from Trump’s WH I guess?
State terrorism. But the Saudi’s will not be called on it. Too many US politicians are in bed with Saudi elites. And SA buys a LOT of US weapons at VERY high profit margins.
BTW; how much more are the American taxpayers going to pay at the pump due to Iranian sanctions? The higher gas prices will line the pockets of he Saudi government. Which will pay for those weapon systems. Almost like this was planned. So corrupt.
So, the MIC gets enriched. Pays off the politicians. The MSM says nothing because they get a piece. A LOT of innocent Yemmanese end up dead or maimed. The Iranian people get screwed again. And the American people end cup footing the entire bill.
No Mercy on the House of Saud, and any of the US senators, and Congress people who refuse to condemn their blood thirsty terrorism, and mass murder. Supporting such psychotic zealots is just plain madness. Like the Israeli government, these sick, and depraved killers deserve to hang by their balls.