US Doubles Down on Support for Prolonging Humanitarian Nightmare in Yemen

Rasa - In great violation of International Law and International Humanitarian Law, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington will double down in support for Saudi Arabia to continue its devastating war on Yemen.

News ID: 441868

Date: 03 December 2018 - 13:55

RNA - Pompeo's comments come days after the US Senate - in a political charade - advanced legislation to bring an end to US involvement in the illegal war, as the United Nations had warned that "Yemen is on the brink of a major catastrophe," and as a CIA assessment strongly implicated Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

In other words, despite the Senate legislation and CIA assessment, the Trump administration is still intent on arming the Saudis and prolonging their war crimes and mass starvation in Yemen. The heads of prominent aid humanitarian organizations, however, this week have all pleaded for a cessation of hostilities so that aid could get into the war-ravaged country.

Sure enough, the warmongers are ignoring the fact that more than 85,000 children have already died since their bombing campaign began in 2015. According to the US Senate, the Saudi and UAE planes have even bombed water treatment plants and other essential civilian infrastructure, leading to a cholera outbreak that has killed thousands of people. They know that the arms they have sold are being used for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, but they “knowingly” and “deliberately” keep the transfer and even say they will continue support for mass bombing.

The terrible results are out there for any decent human being to see. Thousands of people have been killed, injured or forced to flee their homes because of the US-backed, Saudi-led violence, atrocities and blockade. The majority of casualties are civilians, mainly women and children. What's more, US-made weapons such as missiles and cluster bombs continue to destroy vital infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, homes, markets and transport systems, pushing survivors into poverty - that’s according to numerous UN reports.

On that basis, the US government is in breach of International Law and International Humanitarian Law for its support and for allowing the export of American-made missiles and military equipment to Saudi Arabia that have been systematically used to kill civilians. The accusation comes from international lawyers, human rights groups and the United Nations as well. They are all expressing concerns about Saudi-led coalition attacks, accusing the US government of collaborating with Riyadh instead of preventing and suppressing violations of International Law and International Humanitarian Law by Riyadh as a legal duty.

By now it should readily be evident that it is American weapons and support that have been central to a bombing campaign that has turned Yemen into a failed state and inflamed tensions in the region. President Trump and his administration officials, including Pompeo, are complicit in this deliberate destruction and scorched earth policy, by continuing to support airstrikes and providing arms, logistics and intelligence, despite international condemnation as well as strong and increasing evidence that war crimes are being committed.

In that sense and no other, the US government will have to look elsewhere in legally justifying their arming of Saudi Arabia and its criminal coalition in Yemen. Until that happens, International Law and International Humanitarian Law dictates that Washington stop its support and transfer of arms to Saudi Arabia or share responsibility and international condemnation for civilian suffering in Yemen.

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