The Saudi War Crimes In Yemen In International Law’s Point Of View

MEP: On 25 March 2015, Saudi Arabia has started a military intervention in Yemen by launching air strikes Code-named Operation Decisive Storm. Saudi Arabia declared that the military intervention was because of Yemeni president, Mansour Hadi, calling for help to support the country and its people against the Houthi armed group. It was based on the principle of self-defense article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, to use all the necessary tools including military intervention.

Saudis crimes in Yemen can be investigated by international law. What is important is that the United Nations and the Security Council has failed to fulfill their humanitarian duty in Yemen. Security Council as the linchpin of the UN showed that its decisions are based on certain countries’ political interests for issuing “Resolution 2216” and having no desire to maintain real peace internationally. Yemen as an independent country has been invaded by several Arab countries and Yemenis have been attacked by Arab coalition and al-Qaeda terrorists. Security Council put comprehensive sanctions on Yemen instead of condemning the aggressors and terrorists. This resolution shows the real face of the international political pillars.

In other words, not only the United Nations and the Security Council remain silence but also support the aggressors and violators of international law. Security Council issued resolutions about comprehensive sanctions (the people and the military) on Yemen because it was afraid of peoples standing up against the new colonial interests in the region and Israel’s security.

Crimes committed by Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen

1. War crimes: Arab coalition committed crimes over Yemen attack that can be investigated internationally. Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Morocco, Sudan, Jordan and Egypt are countries which attacked Yemen leading by Saudi Arabia. They attacked non-military targets and killed more than 3500 people. Preventing the Red Cross humanitarian aid to victims (military or civilian) is violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and is a war crime. Arab coalition and Saudi Arabia committed so many war crimes such as killing civilians including children and women, attacking wheat silos, preventing medical aid, attacking civilian infrastructure in Yemen including Sanaa power plant, destroying airliners to prevent humanitarian aid from Iran, using banned weapons against the people of Yemen including chemical weapons and white phosphorus munitions and US-made cluster bombs. Saudi Arabia and Arab coalition committing war crimes and violating international humanitarian laws are subject to criminal jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
2. Genocide: the formation of coalition, organized and systematic attacks and killing vast majority of Yemeni people because of their religion are elements of international crime known as “genocide”. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the imam of the Grand mosque in Mecca, confirmed war on Yemen. He also knew the motive of the war in Yemen is being Shia Muslim and said: “it is the time that we build an “Islamic awakening” movement to deal with the Shiite.” This person clearly cites Shia genocide, Ansar Allah, is the reason of military attack to Yemen. Although Shia and Sunni tribes united with leadership of Ansarullah in Yemen revolution, Zaidi Shiites are subject to mass killings genocide. We can say the majority of Saudi troops actions in Yemen are a war crime case.