The Saudi-Emirati coalition confirmed that the Houthi group in Yemen is still targeting Saudi Arabia with specific Iranian weapons, while the Houthis have vowed to respond harshly to coalition attacks targeting governorates they control.
A spokesman for the Saudi-Emirati coalition, Turki al-Maliki, said that the coalition destroyed 8 drones and 4 ballistic missiles, in addition to ballistic missile workshops and drones to launch drones, pointing to Iran's support for the Houthis with quality weapons that threaten regional and international security as he put it.
For its part, the Houthi group considered Maliki's statements a lie, a tacit recognition of their manufacturing capabilities and the success of their strikes directed at Saudi Arabia, promising a harsh response within the Saudi depth.
The Houthi group announced that two people were killed and 4 wounded, including children, in air strikes launched by the coalition in Saada governorate yesterday evening, adding that the coalition carried out 57 new raids on separate areas of Yemen, including 21 raids on Sanaa.
The coalition launched raids on Daylami Air Force Base, the 22nd May complex for military maintenance and a warehouse of household appliances in the area of Sawan and sites in the Al-Hatrash area east of the capital, Sanaa, in addition to the mountains of Eiban and Nahedin southwest of the capital.
Unprecedented investigation
In a related context, the French office revealed to Amnesty International, in a year-long investigation into the sale of French weapons to Saudi Arabia and military cooperation with them, that the Belgian "Commercie Coquirel" center located on French soil is preparing to receive Saudi soldiers to train them to control the latest version of weapons Used in Yemen.
The investigation, which was described as unprecedented and conducted by journalist Audrey Loubel, told the news magazine "Lacronique" published by Amnesty International, that Saudi Arabia was waging a relentless war in Yemen in violation of international law.
The investigation, titled "France is the Land of Welcome", added that, with Paris maintaining this trade with Riyadh, it has become involved in war crimes in Yemen, in stark contrast to its international obligations.
The editor of the investigation expressed regret that the sale of French weapons is not subject to the supervision of Parliament, and that deputies are under pressure when trying to intervene or obtain information related to what she described as the death trade.
The highest rate of child recruitment
On the other hand, an international report said that Yemen is one of the countries that witness the highest rate of child recruitment that was verified in 2019 after both Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The report presented at the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva indicated that the number of children killed in Yemen has increased due to air strikes, ground fighting and mines, and the report presented by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict added that 2019 witnessed An increase in the proportion of children who have been denied humanitarian assistance in conflict areas.
The report indicated that the Special Representative traveled to Riyadh in March last year to sign a memorandum of understanding on improving the protection of children affected by the conflict in Yemen, and to develop a plan to prevent the killing and maiming of children in coalition operations.
In regional efforts, Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi met in Muscat with the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths.
The Omani Foreign Ministry said in a tweet on Twitter that the international envoy thanked the Sultanate for its efforts to deliver aid and achieve peace in Yemen. Bin Alawi also affirmed the continued support of the United Nations efforts to reach a political solution that would bring the Yemeni people security and stability.