Amnesty International: Arms Restrictions Should Be Imposed on the Arab Coalition

Amnesty International, the international human rights organization, has called for arms restrictions against the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, warning of the potential for 'war crimes' during airstrikes. In a report dated October 6, titled 'Bombs Rain Down Day and Night: Civilians in Northern Yemen Are Under Fire', Amnesty International has demanded 'independent and effective' investigations. The battles in Yemen have been ongoing for months, sparked by the Houthi rebellion and their allies, who are supported by Tehran. Following the advances of this group, a coalition formed by major Arab countries in the region has launched attacks against the rebels since April. The Arab coalition claims its goal is to restore power to the exiled President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Amnesty International states that it has recently found new evidence indicating that some war crimes have occurred during these airstrikes. The organization has previously emphasized that there is 'no safe place for civilians' in Yemen due to the war crimes committed by the warring parties. The latest report from Amnesty International focuses on the airstrikes of the Arab coalition, investigating '13 deadly attacks' that it claims resulted in 'about 100 civilian casualties, including 59 child victims.' Amnesty International asserts that the wave of civilian deaths in such deadly attacks underscores the critical importance of imposing restrictions on the sale of certain weapons to the Arab coalition. The organization also stressed that the United States or any country supplying arms to the warring parties in Yemen must ensure that the weapons sent do not seriously violate international humanitarian law. The United Nations estimates that at least 5,000 people have been killed and 25,000 injured in the battles in Yemen, with many of the victims being civilians. In this context, an 'informed source' from Iran dismissed reports of weapons on a seized boat heading to Yemen as 'fabrication.' The Arab coalition reported the seizure of an 'Iranian boat carrying weapons' destined for Yemen, while a Yemeni government spokesman denied the severance of diplomatic ties with Iran.