Saudi Coalition Admits Mistake in Yemen School Bus Attack

The US backed Saudi Coalition against the Yemeni Houthis have accepted responsibility for for an airstrike on a school bus that killed 40 school children back in August. 2018.

In taking responsibility for the attack which drew international condemnation, the Saudi led coalition admitted that the Airstrike on the school bus was unjustified.

The bombing killed 51 people including the 40 school children who had tried to escape in a school bus when the area was being bombarded by the Saudi coalition.

The Saudi coalition had defended the action at first saying missiles had been fired from the area by the Houthi Rebels but had reversed its stance following an international outrage over the affair; the Saudi coalition thereafter promised to investigate the situation and publish it findings.

Saudi state media had also reported that Houthi rebel fighters were thought to be among the bus passengers, arguing the vehicle was therefore a “legitimate” military target.

Saudi led investigations however concluded that the attack was ill timed and not justified which led to the costly mistake that took the lives of 51 people.

Mansour Ahmed al-Mansour, a legal adviser for the Saudi led investigation said;

“There was a clear delay in preparing the fighter jet at the appropriate time and place, thus losing [the opportunity] to target this bus as a military target in an open area in order to avoid such collateral damage. The team believes that the coalition forces should immediately review the application of their rules of engagement to ensure compliance.”

The Saudi coalition further announced that the families of the victims would be compensated and those responsible for the error would be held accountable.

Both the Houthis and the Saudi/UAE coalition have been blamed for massive civilian casualties and human suffering as well as extreme violations of human rights and rules of international conflicts.

While the Saudi led coalition is constantly accused of carrying out airstrikes on civilians, the Houthis have been accused of torture, murder and recruitment of child soldiers.