Ship likely carrying Saudi arms flees Spanish port after protest

Spanish peace groups have staged a protest at an eastern port against the presence of a Saudi ship they suspect was carrying weapons from the United States to be used in Yemen.

The Saudi owned cargo ship Bahri Abha arrived at Spain’s eastern port of Sagunto, Valencia, early Tuesday morning after visiting several ports in the United States, according to Amnesty International.

The Control Arms Coalition of human rights and several other aid groups gathered at the port to protest the ship's presence.

They demanded the Spanish government prohibit the transit and loading in Spain of any weapons.

Port authorities said that the ship had carried out fully legal cargo operations but could not say what the ship was carrying or where it was now headed. They said it left the port early Tuesday morning.

The rights group said it was not clear if the ship was carrying arms in this voyage.

The has carried weapons, mostly military aircraft components — worth $162 million — on eight voyages from the US to the kingdom since Saudi Arabia launched its war against Yemen in 2015, according to the protest organization.

“The Spanish government must intervene to ensure this Saudi Arabian ship is not transporting more deadly cargo that could be used to commit further atrocities in Yemen,” said Alberto Estévez, spokesperson for the organization.

“If it is carrying more arms to be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen, its transit through Spanish territory violates international law,” he added.

SS