Saudi coalition airstrike 'kills' 13 civilians in northern Yemen

An airstrike from the Saudi-led coalition struck a vehicle carrying civilians in northern Yemen on Monday, killing 13 people, including four children, according to the Houthi rebels.

Yemeni tribal leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, confirmed that Saudi warplanes had targeted a vehicle in the Shada area of Saada province, a rebel stronghold, killing everyone inside.

The Saudi-led coalition has faced widespread international criticism for airstrikes that have killed hundreds of civilians and hit non-military targets, including schools, hospitals and wedding parties. The Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack Saudi Arabia.

"This tragedy is yet more proof that, even though the war in Yemen has dropped off the radar of many people, it is still far from over," said Xavier Joubert, Yemen's country director for international aid group Save the Children.

Yemen’s northwestern border with Saudi Arabia is a frequent target for Saudi warplanes, which closely track convoys in the region and have made many errors over the years.

The Houthi-run Health Ministry identified 11 victims, including a woman and four children, aged 12-14, on the northwestern highway. Ministry spokesman Youssef al-Hadri said another two bodies were burned beyond recognition.

The group was on their way home from a local market when they were suddenly bombed, said Save the Children.

There was no immediate comment from the Saudi-led coalition on the strike.

On Monday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took the Saudi-led coalition off a global list of parties whose actions have harmed children in conflict, a move that drew sharp condemnation from human rights groups.

Yemen's conflict erupted in 2014, when Houthi rebels seized much of the country’s north, including the capital, Sanaa.

A US-backed, Saudi-led coalition intervened the following year to oust the Iran-allied Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Read also: Yemen in Focus: Houthi rebels slammed for imposing 'discriminatory' religious tax

The war has killed over 112,000 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, including 12,000 civilians. Aerial bombings and intense ground fighting have destroyed thousands of buildings, leaving half of Yemen's hospitals dysfunctional.

The conflict has only escalated as the country’s devastated health system struggles to cope with a major coronavirus outbreak. On Monday, the internationally recognized government recorded 116 new infections, including 36 deaths, its biggest daily jump yet.

The Houthis have refused to release their coronavirus case count, saying such publicity causes panic. Although testing remains extremely limited nationwide, a dramatic spike in deaths among those suffering from Covid-19 symptoms indicates the pandemic is surging across the Arab world’s poorest country.

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