1000 DAYS OF HORROR
Terrible toll of air strikes exposed as conflict hits milestone
Nearly one third of air raids in Yemen carried out by a Saudi- led coalition dropping smart bombs – some guided by laser systems made in Scotland – have hit civilian areas, according to research.
Hospitals, schools, farms, buses, markets and homes across Yemen have been hit by warplanes known to use Paveway IV laser-guided bombs.
The figures reveal the scale of the carnage as Saudi Arabia’s bombing campaign in Yemen’s civil war passed the 1000-day mark.
The Yemen Data Project, a not- forprofit organisation, said that from March 2015 there have been 15,489 air raids with 31% targeting civilian sites.
Some of the missiles were produced by US arms giant Raytheon which has a factory in Glenrothes making laserguided systems for so- called smart bombs.
Charity War Child UK estimate British arms firms have made £ 6billion from selling weapons to Saudi Arabia since war broke out in Yemen.
The report prompted condemnation of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia and calls for an urgent ceasefire to help Yemen’s civilians, who aid agencies say, are suffering a humanitarian crisis.
The Yemen Data Project has been collecting data on the war since day one, March 26, 2015.
They say the Saudi- led international coalition, backing the Yemen goverment, has carried out an average of 474 raids a month on Houthi rebels. An air raid refers to a single incident, which could comprise multiple airstrikes.
The report said: “Nearly one third of all air raids ( 31%) targeted non- military sites. These included 386 air raids targeted farms; 183 air raids targeted market places: 102 air raids targeted water and electricity sites: 62 air raids targeted food storage sites.”
The northern governorate of Sa’ada was the most heavily targeted Yemeni governorate with 2996 air raids followed by 2432 in the governorate of Taiz.
The report said that the first half of December this year saw a “notable shift in targeting” with twice as many air raids on non-military targets as military targets.
Of a total of 270 raids, 46 targeted military sites while 98 targeted nonmilitary sites including schools and homes.
The Saudi-led coalition is backed by the US and the UK with both nations having military personnel deployed in the Saudi command- and- control centre for coalition airstrikes.
Ross Greer MSP, external affairs spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, said: “While innocent people, including children, are being slaughtered by Saudi missiles, Scots will be shocked to know both our governments are involved. “The Tory government at Westminster has authorised billions of pounds of UK-made weapons to be sold to Saudi Arabia and the Scottish Government has given almost £ 100,000 in a single year to Raytheon, Saudi’s missile supplier.
“It’s time to end this complicity in war crimes.
“The UK Government needs to end arms sales to the Saudi regime and the Scottish Government must stop giving economic development cash to the arms trade.
“That money could be better spent on businesses across the country than on supporting a company complicit in immense human suffering.”
Douglas Chapman MP, shadow SNP spokesperson on defence procurement, said the UK Government has been “part of the problem”. He added: “As we enjoy