A cease fire collapsed quickly this week, as Saudi bombers pounded Sanaa and what they say are “military” targets in Yemen. More than 3,000 people have died since March, with more than 15,000 wounded, according to the United Nations.
“Saudi Arabia, one of the richest countries in the Middle East, is maintaining a blockade on imports of fuel, food and medicine to the Arab world’s poorest nation. Yemen’s health system is on the brink of collapse – the country is a step away from famine, says Suraya Dadoo, writing in South Africa about the silence of the rest of the world about this atrocity. “Saudi tactics in Yemen are frighteningly reminiscent of Israel’s in Gaza: siege; ruthless airstrikes; targeted bombing of schools, homes and hospitals; and collective punishment.”
Saudi Arabia would not be waging this war on Yemen without the active involvement and behind the scenes support of the US and NATO. Literally, American and British bombs are being dropped by Saudi aircraft. This is on top of a 6 year spree of targeted killing by drone and aircraft, carried out directly by the US military.
Alkarama, a Swiss-based human rights group focusing on the Arab world, issued a new report, “Traumatising Skies: U.S. Drone Operations and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Civilians in Yemen.” They write, “The specificity of the study is that it incorporates both individuals who have lost a direct family member to a drone attack and individuals who have not but still live under drones. We found that these two groups are exhibiting similar symptoms and are suffering from severe stress. We concluded that the simple fact of living under drones has psychological consequences that derive from the constant fear of being killed or having a relative being killed.”
A secret drone war killing hundreds away from urban areas has spread to an open annihilation bombing campaign killing thousands in cities, with a whole population in danger of starvation.
The U.S. cannot sit back as if its hands are not dripping in blood.