Arab coalition expresses its regret for Saada strike mistakes

The Saudi-led coalition yesterday expressed regret for mistakes in carrying out a recent air strike against Houthi rebel commanders, which led to some civilian deaths and casualties in north Yemen.

The coalition said it was ready to start legal proceedings against those responsible and would look to see what lessons could be learnt to improve the rules of engagement and prevent further civilian deaths.

Mansour Al Mansour, a legal adviser to the Joint Incident Assessment Team, called for those responsible to be held accountable after it ruled that the August 9 strike in north Yemen’s Saada province, while intended against a legitimate target, led to civilian casualties.

“The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition expresses regret over the mistakes, extends its sympathies, condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and announces its acceptance of the results and findings,” it said.

It said legal proceedings would be launched as soon as the assessment team had passed on its full findings.

Mr Al Mansour said the strikes had been based on intelligence indicating that the bus was carrying Houthi leaders, a legitimate military target.

He said in Riyadh that “an order had been given not to target the bus, which was among civilians, but the order arrived late”.

“There was a clear delay in preparing the fighter at the appropriate time and place, thus losing the opportunity to target this bus as a military target in an open area to avoid such collateral damage,” Mr Al Mansour said.

The coalition will now work with the assessment team and the internationally recognised Yemeni government to obtain the identities of the victims and compensate families.

“The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition reaffirms its continued commitment to the International Humanitarian Law as well as the application of the rules of engagement in accordance with highest international standards and practices,” the statement said.

The coalition referred the incident to the JIAT on August 11, in line with its commitment to investigate all claims regarding mistakes or violations of international law, sanction those responsible and to provide assistance to any victims.

The brother of senior Houthi leader Abdulmalik Al Houthi was killed in an Arab Coalition air strike in Hodeidah on Friday, sources say.

Abdulkhalik Al Houthi, a high-ranking commander and the Arab Coalition’s sixth most wanted, was killed in the Bajil district of Hodeidah, they said.

Abdulkhalik – whose nom de guerre among the Houthis was Abu Anas – was the youngest brother of the Houthi leader. He was born in January 1984 in Marran district in the northern Saada province of Yemen.

He led fighting in northern Yemen in 2013 and was later involved in the takeover of the capital, Sanaa. In 2014, the UN designated Abdulkhalik and his brother for sanctions.

Meanwhile, Yemeni special forces report that they have driven Al Qaeda from most of its strongholds in southern Yemen and killed or captured dozens of its leaders. The terrorist group still poses a threat through sleeper cells, local commanders said.

This week, an attack by Al Qaeda killed five Security Belt soldiers and injured four others at a checkpoint in Ahwar district of Abyan.

The UAE-trained and supported soldiers and elite forces have since 2016 fought Al Qaeda and ISIS in Abyan, Shabwa and Hadramawt provinces in southern Yemen.

A Security Belt commander in Abyan told The National that its forces had paid a high price in the battle against Al Qaeda and ISIS, which took advantage of the civil war to establish itself in Yemen.

Dozens of soldiers were killed in military operations, and Al Qaeda sleeper cells continued to stage ambushes, the commander said.

“In a year-and-a-half, Security Belt forces were able to drive Al Qaeda and ISIL out of Abyan, which was considered the stronghold for them over the past 10 years,” said AbdulAziz Badas, who works for Security Belt in Abyan.

“Military operations by the Yemeni army under former president Ali Abdullah Saleh failed to drive Al Qaeda out.”