Yemen horror air crews face war crime trial
Case focuses on deadly strikes linked to US arms firm with factory in Scotland
The case is the first of its kind in the five-year conflict. Critics say the Saudis cannot be trusted to uphold justice.
Since the Yemen war began in 2015, the Sunday Mail has highlighted war crime allegations linked to Paveway bombs made by US firm Raytheon, which has a factory in Glenrothes, Fife.
Court martial proceedings could take place regarding three attacks, including the bombing of a school bus in August 2018, when 51 people died, including 40 children. We revealed that remnants of a Paveway bomb were found at the site. In another attack in April 2018, an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition hit a wedding party, killing at least 20 people.
Around 30 children were among the hurt. Some lost limbs.
Photographs taken at the site revealed the remain sofa GBU-12 Paveway II- guided bomb, made in t he US by Raytheon.
The third air strike hit a hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in northern Yemen, killing 19 people. Again, remnants of a Paveway bomb were recovered.
Saudi coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said in London that the “procedures of the trial ” had begun, with judgments to be revealed later.
The announcement was a U-turn after the Saudis initially defended the wedding bombing. But critics said they had little faith in the regime to investigate properly.
Andrew Smith, of Campaign Against Arms Trade, said: “If people are being held accountable, that is to be welcomed, but there is no reason to think justice will be done.
“The Saudi regime has shown it can’t be trusted to uphold the human rights of Saudi people, so how can it be trusted to investigate itself for war crimes?
“Over the last five years, the Saudi regime has shown a total disregard for international humanitarian law and the rights and lives of Yemeni people.
“It is not just the Saudi military that bears responsibility for these abuses. So do those that have continued to arm and support this terrible war.
“These terrible attacks would not be possible without the weapons provided by Raytheon and other shameless arms dealers.
“Time and again, Raytheon has shown there is no low it won’t sink to in order to make a profit. It is long past time for Westminster to stop the arms sales and for the Scottish Government to end its financial support for this appalling company.”
MSF said: “More than three years later, this measure, if conf irmed, seems far from providing full accountability for that incident, and it can hardly be seen as providing assurances that it will not be repeated.
“In the last five years, MSF facilities in Yemen have been hit several t imes. Under international humanitarian law, and simple humanity, it is the r esp responsibility of armed partparties to ensure that medical facilities are not attacked.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP sasaid: “The Saudi-led coalition claims its air crews willw face court martial but its words ring hollow while it ccontinues to inflict this humanitarian catastrophe on the people of Yemen. “Until ththis offensive ends, and independent investigations ti ons take place, it will be impossible to assess the full scale of brutality and illegality. “The Scottish Government’s continued relationship with Raytheon is abhorrent and must end.”
The Sunday Mail has revealed the extent of Scottish Government support to Raytheon, including free business advice and around £200,000 of taxpayers’ money. Raytheon did not reply to our request for a comment.