2016 Sanaa funeral airstrike

Last updated
2016 Sana'a airstrike
Part of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen and Yemeni Civil War
Location Sana'a, Yemen
Date8 October 2016 (2016-10-08)
TargetFuneral in Sana'a
Attack type
Airstrike
Deaths143–155 civilians [1]
Injured525+
PerpetratorsFlag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
External video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Video of the second strike, provided by The Telegraph.

The October 2016 Sana'a funeral airstrike took place on the afternoon of 8 October 2016 when 155 people were killed and at least 525 more wounded when two airstrikes, about three to eight minutes apart, hit the packed Al Kubra hall in Sana'a, Yemen during a funeral. The attack was the deadliest single bombing in the then-two year long Yemeni civil war. [2] The funeral was being held for the father of former interior minister Jalal al-Rowaishan. Sana'a mayor Abdel Qader Hilal was reportedly among those killed. [3] [4] The Saudi-led coalition initially denied responsibility but then took responsibility and put the blame on information given by the Yemeni government. [5] [6]

Contents

The United Nations alleged that the Saudi-led coalition had violated international humanitarian law [7] because the bombing was a 'double tap' attack, or a type of airstrike where the first bombing is followed by a second one soon after, with the aim of targeting the wounded, aid workers, and medical personnel tending to them. The UN report said: "The second air strike, which occurred three to eight minutes after the first air strike, almost certainly resulted in more casualties to the already wounded and the first responders." Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that his government was being careful to abide by humanitarian law; however, it stated that its strike on the funeral hall was based on "incorrect information" given to them by the Yemeni government and that it had been carried out without authorization. [7] [8]

Human Rights Watch identified the munitions used in the airstrike as 500 pound laser-guided bombs manufactured by the United States, and called on the U.S. to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia. [9]

Reactions

Domestic

Thousands of Yemenis marched in the capital city on 9 October to protest the air raid and show solidarity to the victims. [10]

International

Non-governmental organisations

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References

  1. Sanchez, Ray. "US: No blank check for Saudi Arabia in Yemen". CNN. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 Nick Miriello (9 October 2016). "48-hour escalation" . Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. "Saudis probe 'heinous' airstrike that kills 140 mourners in Yemen". Sky News. 9 October 2016.
  4. "Top military brass among those killed in Yemen funeral strike". Middle East Eye. 12 October 2016.
  5. "Yemen funeral hall attack 'kills 82'". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  6. Ghobari, Mohammed. "Attack on mourners in Yemen kills 82: acting health minister". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Saudi coalition violated law with Yemen funeral strike: U.N. monitors". Reuters. 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  8. Editorial, Reuters (2016-10-15). "Saudi coalition attacked Yemen funeral based on wrong information: inv". U.S. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  9. /author/catherine_thorbecke (2016-10-13). "US-Made Bomb Used in Airstrike on Funeral in Yemen, HRW Says". ABC News. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  10. "Yemenis protest after funeral hall attack". 9 October 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016 via www.bbc.co.uk.
  11. Antonopoulos, Paul (9 October 2016). "18+ Photos: Over 125 killed, 525 injured by Saudi massacre in Yemen" . Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  12. Section, United Nations News Service (9 October 2016). "UN News - UN strongly condemns attack in Yemen that killed over a hundred people" . Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  13. Riyadh, Ahmed Al Omran in; Dubai, Asa Fitch in (10 October 2016). "Saudi Arabia to Investigate Yemen Funeral Bombing" . Retrieved 28 December 2016 via Wall Street Journal.
  14. "Yemen funeral hall attack 'kills scores'". 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  15. 1 2 Sanchez, Raf; Hope, Christopher (2016-10-10). "Britain stands behind Saudi air campaign in Yemen even as strike on funeral prompts US to review its support". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  16. 1 2 ""Massacre of civilians": Saudi bombing of Yemeni funeral with U.S. weapons was a war crime, rights groups say". Salon. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2019-09-25.