Human Rights Watch condemns Saudi Arabia’s crimes, denounces blockade on Yemen

Human Rights Watch said that Saudi Arabia has committed numerous violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen, including attacks that may amount to war crimes.

In a report published on its website on Saturday, the organization indicated that at least 7,825 civilians have been killed, including 2,138 children, and 12,416 have been injured since 2015, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, added that the actual toll is likely to be much higher since the start of the war.

It explained that most of these losses came as a result of the coalition airstrikes on the Yemenis.

The organization also documented several unlawful attacks by the coalition that targeted homes, markets, hospitals, schools, and mosques.

The report emphasized that Saudi leaders face possible criminal responsibility for war crimes because of their responsibility for these attacks.

The report pointed out that the Saudi military forces and mercenary militias committed serious violations in the Al-Mahra governorate.

According to the report, the war exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis, as the Saudi-led coalition imposed an air and sea blockade in March 2015.

The report quotes the “United Nations Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen” as asserting that it had “reasonable grounds” to believe that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the government of mercenaries are responsible for human rights violations in Yemen.