Saudi envoy defends military intervention in Yemen

Saudi Arabia defends its war in Yemen after an EU call for arms embargo on Riyadh amid reports of high civilian casualties in the impoverished country.

“Saudi Arabia is bombing in Yemen to bring peace and stability,” Saudi Ambassador to Britain Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz wrote in The Telegraph daily on Monday.

“While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia deeply regrets any civilian deaths, it firmly denies allegations of deliberately targeting civilians,” he said.

A recent report by a United Nations panel tasked with examining Saudi airstrikes on Yemen has found “widespread and systemic” attacks on civilian targets.

Prince Mohammed said the Saudi military was making “extensive efforts” to avoid civilian casualties.

A new report from Human Rights Watch has accused Saudi Arabia in Yemen of using American-made cluster bombs in civilian areas.

Riyadh, the report said, is responsible for all or nearly all the cluster munitions attacks in Yemen because it is the only entity operating aircraft capable of delivering the weapon.

At least 8,300 people, among them 2,236 children, have reportedly been martyred and 16,015 others injured, since March. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country’s facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

EA