Saudi Arabia has denied involvement in helicopter air strikes that reportedly killed civilians. CNN reported that deadly air strikes on a village by attack helicopters killed 30 civilians on Sunday, Sep 27.
The village attacked was Bani Zela, located about 6 miles from the Saudi border. In an interview to CNN, Gen. Zakariya al-Khulani of the Yemeni Defense Ministry reported that the number of casualties could increase as there were people trapped under the rubbles.
According to Reuter, a resident of Bani Zela reported that helicopters fired rockets at his village. He claimed that the helicopters returned for a second attack while residents and medic were trying to rescue the casualties.
However, Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Asseri from the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, told Reuters that no helicopter operation was conducted in the area for the past three days. He mentioned that 'people sometimes cannot distinguish between cannon, mortar and Katyusha' and that not every explosion in Yemen was caused by the coalition.
A few days earlier, CBS News reported on air strikes on a wedding celebration in al-Wahga, a village in the Taiz province near the strait of Bab al-Mandab. At least 38 civilians, mostly women and children were killed. According to Reuter, residents reported that two missiles struck tents where a local man affiliated with the Houthi group was holding a wedding reception. A source at Maqbana hospital later reported that dead toll had risen to 131.
Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition in support of the exiled Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Earlier this year, Operation Decisive Storm was launched against the Houthis, an Iran-backed Shiite rebel group who had overthrown President Hadi. The capital of Sanaa in the central province of Marib was the focus of operations by the coalition. The Houthis still control most of Yemen’s north.
Operation Decisive Storm
Aljazeera
CBS News
Reuter
The village attacked was Bani Zela, located about 6 miles from the Saudi border. In an interview to CNN, Gen. Zakariya al-Khulani of the Yemeni Defense Ministry reported that the number of casualties could increase as there were people trapped under the rubbles.
According to Reuter, a resident of Bani Zela reported that helicopters fired rockets at his village. He claimed that the helicopters returned for a second attack while residents and medic were trying to rescue the casualties.
However, Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Asseri from the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, told Reuters that no helicopter operation was conducted in the area for the past three days. He mentioned that 'people sometimes cannot distinguish between cannon, mortar and Katyusha' and that not every explosion in Yemen was caused by the coalition.
A few days earlier, CBS News reported on air strikes on a wedding celebration in al-Wahga, a village in the Taiz province near the strait of Bab al-Mandab. At least 38 civilians, mostly women and children were killed. According to Reuter, residents reported that two missiles struck tents where a local man affiliated with the Houthi group was holding a wedding reception. A source at Maqbana hospital later reported that dead toll had risen to 131.
Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition in support of the exiled Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Earlier this year, Operation Decisive Storm was launched against the Houthis, an Iran-backed Shiite rebel group who had overthrown President Hadi. The capital of Sanaa in the central province of Marib was the focus of operations by the coalition. The Houthis still control most of Yemen’s north.
Operation Decisive Storm
Aljazeera
CBS News
Reuter
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