Sa'da:Sa'ada: The National Human Rights Commission has condemned what it describes as a dangerous escalation by Saudi aircraft targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Sa'ada Governorate.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Commission's statement revealed that the attacks began in the early morning, focusing on the telecommunications network in Munabbih, a civilian area serving over 50,000 people. The network was targeted twice, severing communication and isolating the district. The Al-Salem district, densely populated with residents and displaced persons, also suffered two raids, as did the telecommunications network in Al-Safra, which was knocked out of service, isolating villages, health centers, and schools.
The Commission declared that these actions violate international humanitarian law, specifically Article 52 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which protects civilian objects. The targeting of these networks is classified as a war crime and a crime against humanity, as it appears to be a systematic effort to punish the local population and impose collective punishment, prohibited by Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The statement criticized the silence of the United Nations and other international bodies, suggesting that this has emboldened the Saudi regime. It emphasized the civilian nature of the affected areas, highlighting they are home to farmers, women, and children, not military forces.
Further, the Commission held the Saudi regime legally responsible for these actions, while also implicating the United States, Britain, and France for their roles as arms suppliers. It called on international organizations to denounce these acts of terrorism against Yemen's infrastructure, insisting that these crimes will not be forgotten and the pursuit of justice will continue indefinitely.
