On 9 August 2018, Saudi Arabian expeditionary aircraft bombed a civilian school bus passing through a crowded market in Dahyan, Saada Governorate, Yemen, near the border with Saudi Arabia.[3][4][5][6] At least 40[7] children were killed, all under 15 years old[8] and most under age 10.[5] Sources disagree on the exact number of deaths, but they estimate that the air strike killed about 51 people.[3][4][9][10]
Attack
According to Save the Children, at the time of the attack the children were on a bus heading back to school from a picnic when the driver stopped to get refreshment at the market in Dahyan.[8] Most of the children were under age 10, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.[5] A Red Cross–supported hospital in Saada received the bodies of 29 children under 15 years of age and 48 wounded individuals, 30 of whom were children.[11] A total of 40 children were killed in the strike.[12]
According to a resident of Dahyan, the warplanes had been loitering over the area for more than an hour before they attacked.[13] Another witness said, "Our shops were open and shoppers were walking around as usual. All those who died were residents, children and shop owners."[14] According to Yahya Hussein, a teacher who was traveling separately from the bus, "The scene can't be described—there was body parts and blood everywhere."[15]
The attack came to light after videos were posted on Twitter depicting the remains of the bus and the children.[3] Images of the victims were aired on the Al Masirah TV network, highlighting dramatic images of blood and debris-covered children lying on hospital stretchers.[11] The Saudi Arabian coalition later issued a statement saying that they conducted an airstrike in Saada but were targeting Houthi missile launchers.[3] The mass funeral of the children was aired on the Al Mariah TV network, with thousands of Yemenis participating.[16]
Reactions
Domestic
The official Saudi Arabian press agency called the strike a "legitimate military action" which targeted those who were responsible for a rebel missile attack on the Saudi Arabian city of Jizan on Wednesday.[8][17] They also claimed that the airstrikes "conformed to international and humanitarian laws"[8] and that Houthis were using children as human shields.[8] Yemeni journalist Nasser Arrabyee reported that there were no Houthis in the vicinity of the strike.[3] A Houthi spokesman said that the coalition showed "clear disregard for civilian life", as the attack had targeted a crowded public place in the city.[18] During the mass funeral of the children, many signs were visible protesting against the United States and Saudi Arabia.[16]
On 1 September 2018, the Saudi Arabian-led coalition admitted mistakes, expressing regrets and pledged to hold those responsible for the strikes accountable.[19]
International
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack and called for an independent and prompt investigation,[8] and UNICEF strongly condemned the attack.[20] Also, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee CouncilJan Egeland described the incident as a despicable attack, that was clearly a violation of the rules of war.[21] Furthermore, aid agencies have called for a comprehensive investigation into the attack, including other attacks on civilians in the past.[22]
The United States Department of State called for Saudi Arabia to conduct an investigation into the strike.[18] The United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office expressed "deep concern", called for a transparent investigation, and called upon all parties to prevent civilian casualties and to co-operate with the UN to reach a lasting political solution in Yemen.[23] UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt defended the Saudi–British alliance as important in fighting Islamist extremists.[24]
Non-governmental organisations
The head of the Yemeni delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross tweeted, "@ICRC_Yemen-supported hospital has received dozens of dead and wounded. Under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected during conflict."[25]
