Sanaa funeral airstrike: Difference between revisions

The [[United Nations]] alleged that the Saudi-led coalition had violated international humanitarian law<ref name="reuters.com">{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Michelle |date=2016-10-20 |title=Saudi coalition violated law with Yemen funeral strike: U.N. monitors |language=en |editor-last=Brown |editor-first=Tom |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-un-idUSKCN12K2F1 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |archive-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630003621/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi-un-idUSKCN12K2F1? |url-status=live |access-date=2019-09-25}}</ref> because the bombing was a 'double tap' attack, or a type of airstrike where the first bombing is followed by a second one soon after, with the aim of targeting the wounded, aid workers, and medical personnel tending to them. The UN report said: "The second air strike, which occurred three to eight minutes after the first air strike, almost certainly resulted in more casualties to the already wounded and the first responders." Saudi Foreign Minister [[Adel al-Jubeir]] said that his government was being careful to abide by humanitarian law; however, it stated that its strike on the funeral hall was based on "incorrect information" given to them by the Yemeni government and that it had been carried out without authorization.<ref name="reuters.com"/><ref name="Editorial 2016">{{cite web |date=2016-10-15 |title=Saudi coalition attacked Yemen funeral based on wrong information: inv |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi/saudi-coalition-attack-on-yemen-funeral-based-on-bad-information-investigator-idUSKBN12F090 |access-date=2018-02-06 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |archive-date=7 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005611/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi/saudi-coalition-attack-on-yemen-funeral-based-on-bad-information-investigator-idUSKBN12F090 |url-status=live }}</ref>

 

 

==Reactions==

* {{flag|United Nations}} - Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] called the attack an outrageous violation of international humanitarian law and calling for a full inquiry with consequences for those found culpable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/18-photos-125-killed-525-injured-saudi-massacre-yemen/ |title=18+ Photos: Over 125 killed, 525 injured by Saudi massacre in Yemen |first=Paul |last=Antonopoulos |date=9 October 2016 |access-date=28 December 2016 |archive-date=22 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122045100/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/18-photos-125-killed-525-injured-saudi-massacre-yemen/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date=9 October 2016 |title=UN News - UN strongly condemns attack in Yemen that killed over a hundred people |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55249#.WAEkq_nhCUk |access-date=28 December 2016 |archive-date=7 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107183025/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55249#.WAEkq_nhCUk |url-status=live }}</ref> UN humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick described it as a "horrific attack" and called for an immediate investigation.

* {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} - After initially denying it was involved, the country later admitted it had ordered the airstrikes and expressed its deep regret of the attack in the letter from its United Nations mission to the [[U.N. Security Council]]. It promised to release the results of its own investigation into the strike and claimed it was careful to abide by international humanitarian law.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Al Omran |first1=Ahmed |last2=Fitch |first2=Asa |date=10 October 2016 |title=Saudi Arabia to Investigate Yemen Funeral Bombing |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-to-investigate-yemen-funeral-bombing-1476115743 |access-date=28 December 2016 |website=Wall Street Journal |via= |archive-date=27 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227024246/http://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-to-investigate-yemen-funeral-bombing-1476115743 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* {{flag|United Kingdom}} - The British government said the bombing was "shocking" but that, unlike the US government, it would not be carrying out a review of British support for the Saudi-led coalition.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/10/britain-stands-behind-saudi-air-campaign-in-yemen-even-as-strike/ |title=Britain stands behind Saudi air campaign in Yemen even as strike on funeral prompts US to review its support |last1=Sanchez |first1=Raf |date=2016-10-10 |work=The Telegraph |access-date=2019-09-25 |last2=Hope |first2=Christopher |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=22 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222010454/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/10/britain-stands-behind-saudi-air-campaign-in-yemen-even-as-strike/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that Britain was content for the coalition to carry out its own investigation into its actions. "They have the best insight into their own military procedures and will be able to conduct the most thorough and conclusive investigations," she said.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/>

 

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sana'a airstrike, 2016}}

[[Category:2016 controversies]]

[[Category:Airstrikes in Yemen]]

[[Category:Houthi Movement]]

[[Category:Massacres in 2016]]

[[Category:Military intervention in Yemen]]

[[Category:2016 airstrikes]]

[[Category:Crime in Sanaa]]