The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting on Friday, August 9, regarding the recent airstrike by Saudi Arabian forces and their allies on a bus in northern Yemen. The coalition forces claim that the bus was carrying Houthi fighters, but other reports indicate that 29 children were killed as a result of this attack. The Saudi-led military coalition has stated that it will investigate the airstrike following requests from the UN and the US. According to the Red Cross, the airstrike, which targeted a school bus in the Dahyan market of Saada province, left 48 injured, 30 of whom are children. A photographer from the French news agency who was present at the horrific scene reported that the school bus had been turned into a twisted mass of metal, with children's belongings and body parts scattered on the ground. The Saudi-led coalition has been engaged in war with Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015. Initially, the coalition stated that it conducted a 'legitimate military action' in response to deadly missile attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Taha al-Mutawakil, the Houthi health minister, stated in a press conference on Friday that the death toll from this attack has reached a 'horrific figure of 51,' with 40 of them being children. However, this new figure has not yet been confirmed by the Red Cross. Following the attack on the school bus in Yemen, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an 'independent and urgent investigation.' The US State Department also urged the Saudi-led military coalition to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is set to meet behind closed doors at the request of five non-permanent members to discuss the dimensions and implications of this attack. In another report, Reuters quoted Al Arabiya television as saying that Saudi forces intercepted and destroyed two missiles fired by the Houthis at Saudi Arabia on Friday. Hours earlier, Houthi media reported that the rebels had fired several ballistic missiles at Jazan province in southern Saudi Arabia and one missile at a Saudi military base in Asir province, both of which border Yemen.
UN Security Council Meeting Regarding Airstrike on School Bus in Yemen
The UN Security Council is convening to discuss a recent airstrike by Saudi-led forces on a school bus in Yemen, which reportedly killed numerous children. The coalition claims the bus was carrying Houthi fighters, while humanitarian organizations report a significant civilian death toll. This incident raises serious concerns about the ongoing conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit a school bus in Yemen, reportedly killing numerous children. The coalition claims the bus was carrying Houthi fighters, while humanitarian organizations report a high civilian death toll.
- The airstrike occurred in the Dahyan market of Saada province.
- UN and US have called for an investigation into the incident.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Yemen conflict began in 2015 when Houthi rebels took control of the capital, leading to Saudi-led intervention. The war has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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