A rocket fired from Yemen killed a three-year-old boy Saturday in the Saudi border region of Najran, a civil defence official said, in the latest cross-border attack by Iran-backed Yemeni rebels.
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Houthi supporters and activists posted photographs on social media showing lifeless bodies of children and charred remains in the aftermath on the attack. While Iran’s foreign minister dismissed the statements as “baseless accusations”, Kerry said he was “deeply troubled” after allegedly viewing Saudi photographs that showed Iranian missiles along the Saudi-Yemeni border, according to AP.
Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, has come under stiff criticism from rights groups for air strikes that have repeatedly killed civilians in Yemen. Zeid’s office says an estimated 3,799 civilians have been killed since then.
Saudi Arabia accuses the Houthis of being an Iranian proxy, which the rebels deny.
Citing Yemen’s Houthi-run news agency, The Associated Press (AP) reports: “Airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition in northern Yemen killed 11 civilians, including women and children”.
The coalition says it seeks to restore the internationally-recognized government in Sanaa, after Houthis captured it in 2014 and forced the government to flee overseas.
Kerry said following talks in Jeddah on Thursday he agreed with Gulf states and the United Nations on a plan to resume peace talks in Yemen with a view to forming a unity government.
The Arab coalition has also stepped up its air raids in Yemen since the peace talks collapsed.
“We agreed on a renewed approach to negotiations with both a security and political track simultaneously working in order to provide a comprehensive settlement”, Kerry said.
Saudi soldiers load an artillery piece at a position close to the Saudi-Yemeni border. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef showed Kerry the photos, which have not been made public.
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And despite Kerry’s words about seeking peace in Yemen, the USA continues to supply Saudi Arabia with weapons that have been used to kill civilians in that country.
