Israel Hits Yemen: An Israeli airstrike struck Yemen’s capital, killing six people and injuring 86 others. 

Israel Hits Yemen: Israel Hits Yemen: Airstrike Leaves 6 Dead, 86 Injured | WION

Israel Strikes Houthis: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the security cabinet on Sunday following Israeli Air Force strikes on Houthi military targets in Sanaa, Yemen, carried out in response to Houthi missile attacks on Israel.


Israel Strikes Houthis: Netanyahu Warns of Heavy Consequences for Attacks on Israel

Four soldiers in Yemen were killed in clashes with Huthi rebels in the country's north on Saturday (February 25) evening. A military official, who did not wish to be identified, said the soldiers were killed while confronting rebels in the south of Harib district in Marib province, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday. Several other soldiers were injured in the fighting that ended hours after the initial attack on government positions in Harib, the official added.&nbsp;

It is not yet known how many Huthi rebels were killed. Flare-ups between the Yemeni forces and Huthi rebels are relatively common in the government's last northern stronghold.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015 to back the government after Huthis seized control of the capital city of Sanaa and large swathes of Yemen, AFP reported.

The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people both directly and indirectly and triggered what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced.

The clashes on Saturday come almost a month after Huthi rebels attacked Yemeni government military sites in the Lahj province on January 27. Eight people, including five rebels and three soldiers, were reported dead.&nbsp;

A local military official told the Xinhua news agency the rebels carried out the attack and attempted to advance militarily on the ground to capture key sites controlled by the government forces in the northern part of the province.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Four soldiers in Yemen were killed in clashes with Huthi rebels in the country's north on Saturday (February 25) evening. A military official, who did not wish to be identified, said the soldiers were killed while confronting rebels in the south of Harib district in Marib province, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday.

Four soldiers in Yemen were killed in clashes with Huthi rebels in the country's north on Saturday (February 25) evening. A military official, who did not wish to be identified, said the soldiers were killed while confronting rebels in the south of Harib district in Marib province, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday. Several other soldiers were injured in the fighting that ended hours after the initial attack on government positions in Harib, the official added. It is not yet known how many Huthi rebels were killed. Flare-ups between the Yemeni forces and Huthi rebels are relatively common in the government's last northern stronghold. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015 to back the government after Huthis seized control of the capital city of Sanaa and large swathes of Yemen, AFP reported. The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people both directly and indirectly and triggered what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced. The clashes on Saturday come almost a month after Huthi rebels attacked Yemeni government military sites in the Lahj province on January 27. Eight people, including five rebels and three soldiers, were reported dead. A local military official told the Xinhua news agency the rebels carried out the attack and attempted to advance militarily on the ground to capture key sites controlled by the government forces in the northern part of the province. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Yemen: Four soldiers killed, several others injured in clashes with Huthi rebels

Over 80 Yemeni soldiers were killed and several wounded in missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, sources said on Sunday.&nbsp;

A mosque in a military camp was attacked by the Huthis in the central province of Marib, during evening prayers, military sources said.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-climbs-to-seven-in-missile-attack-in-yemen-270894">Death toll climbs to seven in missile attack in Yemen</a>

A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where casualties were admitted, informed that 83 soldiers are killed and 148 injured in the attack.&nbsp;

Saudi state TV said that 60 people are killed in the attack.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-hits-military-parade-in-yemen-at-least-five-dead-270854">Blast hits military parade in Yemen, at least five dead</a>

Death toll figures are mostly disputed, but the huge toll from this strike means that it is one of the bloodiest attacks since the beginning of the war&nbsp;in 2014 when Sanaa was captured by rebels.&nbsp;

The attack came a day after the coalition-backed government forces initiated a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa.&nbsp;

Another military source informed that fighting in Nihm is ongoing on Sunday.&nbsp;

"Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured," the source said.&nbsp;

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the mosque attack.&nbsp;

"The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," official Saba news agency quoted Hadi as saying.&nbsp;

The drone and missile attack comes after months of relative peace in the war between Iran-backed Huthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi and its military allies.&nbsp;

Recently, United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths also welcomed a significant reduction in airstrikes and the movement of ground troops.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war in Yemen, which the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

An UN-brokered agreement signed between the warring sides in December 2018 is seen as a hope to reduce the crisis in Yemen but the slow implementation means that the intense conflict continues.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Over 80 Yemeni soldiers were killed and several wounded in missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, sources said on Sunday. A mosque in a military camp was attacked by the Huthis in the central province of Marib, during evening prayers, military sources said.

Over 80 Yemeni soldiers were killed and several wounded in missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, sources said on Sunday. A mosque in a military camp was attacked by the Huthis in the central province of Marib, during evening prayers, military sources said. Also read: Death toll climbs to seven in missile attack in Yemen A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where casualties were admitted, informed that 83 soldiers are killed and 148 injured in the attack. Saudi state TV said that 60 people are killed in the attack. Also read: Blast hits military parade in Yemen, at least five dead Death toll figures are mostly disputed, but the huge toll from this strike means that it is one of the bloodiest attacks since the beginning of the war in 2014 when Sanaa was captured by rebels. The attack came a day after the coalition-backed government forces initiated a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa. Another military source informed that fighting in Nihm is ongoing on Sunday. "Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured," the source said. Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the mosque attack. "The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," official Saba news agency quoted Hadi as saying. The drone and missile attack comes after months of relative peace in the war between Iran-backed Huthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi and its military allies. Recently, United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths also welcomed a significant reduction in airstrikes and the movement of ground troops. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war in Yemen, which the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. An UN-brokered agreement signed between the warring sides in December 2018 is seen as a hope to reduce the crisis in Yemen but the slow implementation means that the intense conflict continues. (With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Yemen: Over 80 killed in missile attack, bloodiest since beginning of war

At least seven people were killed and several injured in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-hits-military-parade-in-yemen-at-least-five-dead-270854">missile attack </a>on a military parade in Yemen's town of al-Dhalea on Sunday.&nbsp;

Government-allied southern separatist forces who control that area blamed Iran-backed Houthi group for the attack. However, no immediate claim of responsibility was made by the Houthis.

The missile struck a parade ground where a military graduation for Security Belt forces had just finished, Security Belt group and the al-Dhalea southern separatist forces said.

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Seven people died in the attack which included four children and 25 others were wounded, as per the statement by local forces spokesperson.&nbsp;

As per witnesses account, the missile blasted near a guest platform during the parade.&nbsp;

The Security Belt group is a part of southern separatist forces in south Yemen and backs the creation of an independent state.&nbsp;

UAE also supports the Security Belt forces in a battle against the Iran-aligned Houthis.&nbsp;

Yemen is in the middle of massive chaos since almost five years when the Houthi movement ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in late 2014. The Saudi-led coalition, including the United Arab Emirates intervened militarily, in order to restore Hadi's internationally recognized government.

(with inputs from Reuters)

At least seven people were killed and several injured in a missile attack on a military parade in Yemen's town of al-Dhalea on Sunday. Government-allied southern separatist forces who control that area blamed Iran-backed Houthi group for the attack.

At least seven people were killed and several injured in a missile attack on a military parade in Yemen's town of al-Dhalea on Sunday. Government-allied southern separatist forces who control that area blamed Iran-backed Houthi group for the attack. However, no immediate claim of responsibility was made by the Houthis. The missile struck a parade ground where a military graduation for Security Belt forces had just finished, Security Belt group and the al-Dhalea southern separatist forces said. Watch Video: Seven people died in the attack which included four children and 25 others were wounded, as per the statement by local forces spokesperson. As per witnesses account, the missile blasted near a guest platform during the parade. The Security Belt group is a part of southern separatist forces in south Yemen and backs the creation of an independent state. UAE also supports the Security Belt forces in a battle against the Iran-aligned Houthis. Yemen is in the middle of massive chaos since almost five years when the Houthi movement ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in late 2014. The Saudi-led coalition, including the United Arab Emirates intervened militarily, in order to restore Hadi's internationally recognized government. (with inputs from Reuters)

Death toll climbs to seven in missile attack in Yemen

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By Jeff Bachman

The US House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to pass legislation to deny further military assistance for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen.

The bipartisan vote for the bill was a repudiation of the Obama and Trump administrations’ support for the Saudis and a war that many charge includes violations of human rights. A Saudi-led coalition of states has been aggressively bombing Yemen and imposing an air and naval blockade of its ports for more than three years, leading UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to describe Yemen as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”

The legislation now goes to the Senate. President Trump has said that he would veto it if passed.

Guterres put the crisis in stark perspective, emphasising the near complete lack of security for the Yemeni people. More than 22 million people out of a total population of 28 million are in need of humanitarian aid and protection. Eighteen million people lack reliable access to food; 8.4 million people “do not know how they will obtain their next meal.”

As a scholar of genocide and human rights, I believe the destruction brought about by these attacks combined with the blockade amounts to genocide.

Based on my research, published online by Third World Quarterly, I believe the coalition would not be capable of committing this crime without the material and logistical support of both the Obama and Trump administrations.

A ‘storm’ recast as ‘hope’

Yemen has been gripped by a civil war since 2015, pitting the Shia Houthi movement – which has fought for centuries for control of parts of Yemen – against a government backed by Sunni Saudi Arabia. Because of these religious differences, it would be easy to recast what is largely a political conflict in Yemen as a sectarian one.

That characterisation fits Saudi and US assertions that the Houthis are controlled by Shiite Iran, a claim that has not gone uncontested. Both the Saudis and the US are hostile to Iran, so US support of Saudia Arabia in Yemen represents what US administrations have said are strategic interests in the region.

Besides Saudi Arabia, the coalition attacking Yemen includes the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Qatar was part of the coalition but is no longer.

During the first three years of “Operation Decisive Storm,” later renamed “Operation Renewal of Hope,” 16,749 coalition air attacks in Yemen were documented by the Yemen Data Project, which describes itself as an “independent data collection project aimed at collecting and disseminating data on the conduct of the war in Yemen.”

Based on the information available to it using open sources, the Yemen Data Project reports that two-thirds of the coalition’s bombing attacks have been against nonmilitary and unknown targets. The coalition isn’t accidentally attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure – it’s doing it deliberately.

That’s evident from the kind – and volume – of civilian targets documented. They include places that are generally protected against attack even under the lax rules of international humanitarian law: Residential areas, vehicles, marketplaces and mosques as well as boats, social gatherings and camps for internally displaced persons.

Because of the role it plays in movement of people, food and medicine, Yemen’s transportation infrastructure is especially important. Airports, ports, bridges and roads have all been repeatedly attacked.

Yemen’s economic infrastructure – farms, private businesses and factories, oil and gas facilities, water and electricity lines and food storage – have also been hit. And the coalition has targeted and destroyed schools and medical facilities, too.

Finally, Yemen’s cultural heritage has been attacked. In all, at least 78 cultural sites have been damaged or destroyed, including archaeological sites, museums, mosques, churches and tombs, as well as numerous other monuments and residences that have great historical and cultural significance.

How to make a crisis

The attacks aren’t the only way the coalition is creating a massive humanitarian crisis.

The air and naval blockade, in effect since March 2015, “is essentially using the threat of starvation as a bargaining tool and an instrument of war,” according to the UN panel of experts on Yemen.

The blockade stops and inspects vessels seeking entry to Yemen’s ports. That allows the coalition to regulate and restrict Yemenis’ access to food, fuel, medical supplies and humanitarian aid.

In his analysis of the blockade’s legality, Dutch military scholar Martin Fink writes that the blockade means “massive time delays and uncertainty on what products would be allowed to enter.”

Despite U.N. efforts to alleviate some of the worst delays, imports are often held up for a long time. In some cases, food that makes it through the blockade has already spoiled, if the entry is not denied altogether.

In some ways, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is unprecedented and can be tied directly to the conflict. As the World Bank notes, “Yemen’s very difficult economic challenges before the current conflict cannot be compared to the intensely critical situation the country is facing today.”

Similarly, Tufts University scholar Alex de Waal describes Yemen as “the greatest famine atrocity of our lifetimes.” It was caused, writes de Waal, by the coalition “deliberately destroying the country’s food-producing infrastructure.”

The failing security for the people of Yemen has been compounded by a failing health system. The World Health Organisation reported in September 2017 that only 45 per cent of health facilities in Yemen were functional.

As Secretary-General Guterres put it, “Treatable illnesses become a death sentence when local health services are suspended and it is impossible to travel outside the country.”

As of February 2018, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the coalition had killed 6,000 people in airstrikes and wounded nearly 10,000 more.

Yet, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights report, these counts are conservative. Tens of thousands of Yemenis have also died from causes related to the war. According to Save the Children, an estimated 85,000 children under five may have died since 2015, with more than 50,000 child deaths in 2017 alone from hunger and related causes.

Coalition actions in Yemen amount to nothing short of what Raphael Lemkin, the individual who coined the term “genocide,” referred to as a “synchronized attack on different aspects of life.”

The US contribution

The coalition’s genocide in Yemen would not be possible without the complicity of the US. This has been a bipartisan presidential effort, covering both the Obama and Trump administrations.

US arms are being used to kill Yemenis and destroy their country. In 2016, well after the coalition began its genocidal assault on Yemen, four of the top five recipients of US arms sales were members of the coalition.

The U.S. has also provided the coalition with logistical support, including mid-air refuelling, targeting advice and support, intelligence, expedited munitions resupply and maintenance.

Other than the sale of arms, perhaps the most significant contribution to the coalition’s ability to commit genocide in Yemen has been the provision of fuel and midair refuelling of coalition warplanes, which was halted in early November 2018. By the middle of 2017, the US had delivered over 67 million pounds of fuel to the coalition and refuelled coalition aircraft more than 9,000 times.

Shared responsibility for genocide

As a genocide scholar, I believe that under international law, the US shares responsibility with the coalition for genocide in Yemen.

What does this mean? It means that the US must cease and desist all activities that facilitate genocide in Yemen. This would include stopping all sales of weapons and ending logistical support for coalition action. The legislation passed by the House would largely accomplish this, though the House bill would allow intelligence sharing with Saudi Arabia to continue when “appropriate in the national security interest of the United States.”

However, even if the Senate passes it, the president’s likely veto of the bill will mean no change in the deadly status quo unless the legislation garners enough support to override a presidential veto.

In an ideal world, one in which all states are equally subjects before international law, the U.S. would also seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding what restitution it owes the people of Yemen for its role in the coalition’s genocide.

Similarly, the US would request an International Criminal Court investigation into individual culpability of US officials in both the Obama and Trump administrations for their role in facilitating the crimes committed in Yemen.

Of course, this is not an ideal world.

The US recognises neither the International Court of Justice’s authority to judge the legality of its actions, nor the International Criminal Court’s authority to investigate the suspected criminal acts of individual US officials. Such an investigation could be triggered by a UN Security Council referral, but the US would simply veto any such effort.

All that is left, then, is for the people of the US to hold their own to account for the crimes committed in their names. 
 
(Jeff Bachman is Professorial Lecturer in Human Rights, American University School of International Service)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/senate-vote-could-end-us-complicity-in-the-saudi-led-genocide-in-yemen-111952">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

By Jeff Bachman The US House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to pass legislation to deny further military assistance for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen.

By Jeff Bachman The US House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to pass legislation to deny further military assistance for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen. The bipartisan vote for the bill was a repudiation of the Obama and Trump administrations’ support for the Saudis and a war that many charge includes violations of human rights. A Saudi-led coalition of states has been aggressively bombing Yemen and imposing an air and naval blockade of its ports for more than three years, leading UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to describe Yemen as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” The legislation now goes to the Senate. President Trump has said that he would veto it if passed. Guterres put the crisis in stark perspective, emphasising the near complete lack of security for the Yemeni people. More than 22 million people out of a total population of 28 million are in need of humanitarian aid and protection. Eighteen million people lack reliable access to food; 8.4 million people “do not know how they will obtain their next meal.” As a scholar of genocide and human rights, I believe the destruction brought about by these attacks combined with the blockade amounts to genocide. Based on my research, published online by Third World Quarterly, I believe the coalition would not be capable of committing this crime without the material and logistical support of both the Obama and Trump administrations. A ‘storm’ recast as ‘hope’ Yemen has been gripped by a civil war since 2015, pitting the Shia Houthi movement – which has fought for centuries for control of parts of Yemen – against a government backed by Sunni Saudi Arabia. Because of these religious differences, it would be easy to recast what is largely a political conflict in Yemen as a sectarian one. That characterisation fits Saudi and US assertions that the Houthis are controlled by Shiite Iran, a claim that has not gone uncontested. Both the Saudis and the US are hostile to Iran, so US support of Saudia Arabia in Yemen represents what US administrations have said are strategic interests in the region. Besides Saudi Arabia, the coalition attacking Yemen includes the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Qatar was part of the coalition but is no longer. During the first three years of “Operation Decisive Storm,” later renamed “Operation Renewal of Hope,” 16,749 coalition air attacks in Yemen were documented by the Yemen Data Project, which describes itself as an “independent data collection project aimed at collecting and disseminating data on the conduct of the war in Yemen.” Based on the information available to it using open sources, the Yemen Data Project reports that two-thirds of the coalition’s bombing attacks have been against nonmilitary and unknown targets. The coalition isn’t accidentally attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure – it’s doing it deliberately. That’s evident from the kind – and volume – of civilian targets documented. They include places that are generally protected against attack even under the lax rules of international humanitarian law: Residential areas, vehicles, marketplaces and mosques as well as boats, social gatherings and camps for internally displaced persons. Because of the role it plays in movement of people, food and medicine, Yemen’s transportation infrastructure is especially important. Airports, ports, bridges and roads have all been repeatedly attacked. Yemen’s economic infrastructure – farms, private businesses and factories, oil and gas facilities, water and electricity lines and food storage – have also been hit. And the coalition has targeted and destroyed schools and medical facilities, too. Finally, Yemen’s cultural heritage has been attacked. In all, at least 78 cultural sites have been damaged or destroyed, including archaeological sites, museums, mosques, churches and tombs, as well as numerous other monuments and residences that have great historical and cultural significance. How to make a crisis The attacks aren’t the only way the coalition is creating a massive humanitarian crisis. The air and naval blockade, in effect since March 2015, “is essentially using the threat of starvation as a bargaining tool and an instrument of war,” according to the UN panel of experts on Yemen. The blockade stops and inspects vessels seeking entry to Yemen’s ports. That allows the coalition to regulate and restrict Yemenis’ access to food, fuel, medical supplies and humanitarian aid. In his analysis of the blockade’s legality, Dutch military scholar Martin Fink writes that the blockade means “massive time delays and uncertainty on what products would be allowed to enter.” Despite U.N. efforts to alleviate some of the worst delays, imports are often held up for a long time. In some cases, food that makes it through the blockade has already spoiled, if the entry is not denied altogether. In some ways, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is unprecedented and can be tied directly to the conflict. As the World Bank notes, “Yemen’s very difficult economic challenges before the current conflict cannot be compared to the intensely critical situation the country is facing today.” Similarly, Tufts University scholar Alex de Waal describes Yemen as “the greatest famine atrocity of our lifetimes.” It was caused, writes de Waal, by the coalition “deliberately destroying the country’s food-producing infrastructure.” The failing security for the people of Yemen has been compounded by a failing health system. The World Health Organisation reported in September 2017 that only 45 per cent of health facilities in Yemen were functional. As Secretary-General Guterres put it, “Treatable illnesses become a death sentence when local health services are suspended and it is impossible to travel outside the country.” As of February 2018, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the coalition had killed 6,000 people in airstrikes and wounded nearly 10,000 more. Yet, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights report, these counts are conservative. Tens of thousands of Yemenis have also died from causes related to the war. According to Save the Children, an estimated 85,000 children under five may have died since 2015, with more than 50,000 child deaths in 2017 alone from hunger and related causes. Coalition actions in Yemen amount to nothing short of what Raphael Lemkin, the individual who coined the term “genocide,” referred to as a “synchronized attack on different aspects of life.” The US contribution The coalition’s genocide in Yemen would not be possible without the complicity of the US. This has been a bipartisan presidential effort, covering both the Obama and Trump administrations. US arms are being used to kill Yemenis and destroy their country. In 2016, well after the coalition began its genocidal assault on Yemen, four of the top five recipients of US arms sales were members of the coalition. The U.S. has also provided the coalition with logistical support, including mid-air refuelling, targeting advice and support, intelligence, expedited munitions resupply and maintenance. Other than the sale of arms, perhaps the most significant contribution to the coalition’s ability to commit genocide in Yemen has been the provision of fuel and midair refuelling of coalition warplanes, which was halted in early November 2018. By the middle of 2017, the US had delivered over 67 million pounds of fuel to the coalition and refuelled coalition aircraft more than 9,000 times. Shared responsibility for genocide As a genocide scholar, I believe that under international law, the US shares responsibility with the coalition for genocide in Yemen. What does this mean? It means that the US must cease and desist all activities that facilitate genocide in Yemen. This would include stopping all sales of weapons and ending logistical support for coalition action. The legislation passed by the House would largely accomplish this, though the House bill would allow intelligence sharing with Saudi Arabia to continue when “appropriate in the national security interest of the United States.” However, even if the Senate passes it, the president’s likely veto of the bill will mean no change in the deadly status quo unless the legislation garners enough support to override a presidential veto. In an ideal world, one in which all states are equally subjects before international law, the U.S. would also seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding what restitution it owes the people of Yemen for its role in the coalition’s genocide. Similarly, the US would request an International Criminal Court investigation into individual culpability of US officials in both the Obama and Trump administrations for their role in facilitating the crimes committed in Yemen. Of course, this is not an ideal world. The US recognises neither the International Court of Justice’s authority to judge the legality of its actions, nor the International Criminal Court’s authority to investigate the suspected criminal acts of individual US officials. Such an investigation could be triggered by a UN Security Council referral, but the US would simply veto any such effort. All that is left, then, is for the people of the US to hold their own to account for the crimes committed in their names. (Jeff Bachman is Professorial Lecturer in Human Rights, American University School of International Service) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Senate vote could end US complicity in the Saudi-led genocide in Yemen

At least 149 people have been killed in 24 hours of clashes in Yemen's vital port city of Hodeida, medics and military sources said Monday, as international pressure mounted for a ceasefire.

Government loyalists backed by a Saudi-led coalition are fighting to oust Huthi rebels from the Red Sea city, whose port is a lifeline to 14 million Yemenis who face mass starvation.

A source in the pro-government coalition said the insurgents had pushed back a large-scale assault on the rebel-held port.

Government forces, led on the ground by Emirati-backed troops, have made their way into rebel-held Hodeida after 11 days of clashes, reaching residential neighbourhoods in the east on Sunday and sparking fears of street fights that would further endanger civilians trapped in the city.&nbsp;

Residents and government military sources have reported rebel snipers stationed on rooftops in civilian streets in eastern Hodeida, a few miles from the port on the western edge of the city.

Mariam Aldogani, Save the Children's field coordinator in Yemen, said that the people in Hodeida are living in a "state of fear".

"There is ongoing fighting, and the situation is very bad," she told AFP over the weekend by phone, as strikes were heard in the background.

The Hodeida offensive has sparked international outcry unprecedented in nearly four years of conflict between Yemen's Huthis, who are linked to Iran, and the Saudi-backed government.&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday urged Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a major ally of Washington, to engage in peace talks.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday, where he will press King Salman and Prince Mohammed to support UN efforts to end the conflict, the Foreign Office said.

Both the United States and Britain are major suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

Hunt will also meet senior officials from Yemen and the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates, a key pillar of the Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government.

"The human cost of war in Yemen is incalculable," Hunt said ahead of his trip. "The only solution is now a political decision to set aside arms and pursue peace."

Aid groups fear for the safety of nearly 600,000 people living in Hodeida -- and for millions of others dependent on its port for what little food and humanitarian aid trickle into impoverished, blockaded Yemen.

Civilians killed

A military official in Hodeida on Monday confirmed seven civilians had died, without giving further details.&nbsp;

Medics in hospitals across the city reported 110 rebels and 32 loyalist fighters killed overnight, according to a tally by AFP.&nbsp;

Sources at the Al-Alfi military hospital, seized by the rebels during their 2014 takeover, said charred body parts had been delivered there overnight. Military sources confirmed that the Saudi-led alliance had targeted the rebels with multiple air strikes.

The rebels have begun to evacuate their wounded to Sanaa, the capital, which the Huthis seized during a 2014 takeover that included a string of ports on Yemen's coastline.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the Yemeni government's fight against the Iran-backed Huthis in 2015, triggering what the UN now calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.&nbsp;

The Saudi-led alliance drove the rebels from the Yemeni coast, but have failed to retake Hodeida despite multiple attempts.&nbsp;

Nearly 600 people have been killed since clashes erupted in Hodeida on November 1, ending a temporary suspension in a government offensive to take the city that began in June.

International pressure

The Saudi-led alliance has come under intense international pressure to end the conflict in Yemen, particularly following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp;

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist killed in his country's consulate in Istanbul on October 2, was an ardent critic of Prince Mohammed, who has spearheaded the kingdom's controversial role in the Yemen war.&nbsp;

Multiple countries, including Germany and Norway, have announced the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi's killing.&nbsp;

The United Nations' Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, is pushing for peace talks between the Huthis and Saudi-backed government by the end of the year. Multiple rounds of UN-brokered negotiations have failed to find a solution to the Yemen conflict.&nbsp;

The United States, which for years provided military training and aerial refueling for the Saudi-led coalition, on Saturday announced it would end its inflight refueling support for the alliance.&nbsp;

The coalition has been blacklisted by the United Nations for the killing and maiming of children, particularly in air raids on rebel-held territory.

The alliance accuses Iran of smuggling arms to the Huthis through the Hodeida port. Tehran denies the charges.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization estimates nearly 10,000 people have been killed in the Yemen war since 2015. But rights groups believe the toll may be five times as high.

At least 149 people have been killed in 24 hours of clashes in Yemen's vital port city of Hodeida, medics and military sources said Monday, as international pressure mounted for a ceasefire.

At least 149 people have been killed in 24 hours of clashes in Yemen's vital port city of Hodeida, medics and military sources said Monday, as international pressure mounted for a ceasefire. Government loyalists backed by a Saudi-led coalition are fighting to oust Huthi rebels from the Red Sea city, whose port is a lifeline to 14 million Yemenis who face mass starvation. A source in the pro-government coalition said the insurgents had pushed back a large-scale assault on the rebel-held port. Government forces, led on the ground by Emirati-backed troops, have made their way into rebel-held Hodeida after 11 days of clashes, reaching residential neighbourhoods in the east on Sunday and sparking fears of street fights that would further endanger civilians trapped in the city. Residents and government military sources have reported rebel snipers stationed on rooftops in civilian streets in eastern Hodeida, a few miles from the port on the western edge of the city. Mariam Aldogani, Save the Children's field coordinator in Yemen, said that the people in Hodeida are living in a "state of fear". "There is ongoing fighting, and the situation is very bad," she told AFP over the weekend by phone, as strikes were heard in the background. The Hodeida offensive has sparked international outcry unprecedented in nearly four years of conflict between Yemen's Huthis, who are linked to Iran, and the Saudi-backed government. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday urged Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a major ally of Washington, to engage in peace talks. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday, where he will press King Salman and Prince Mohammed to support UN efforts to end the conflict, the Foreign Office said. Both the United States and Britain are major suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia. Hunt will also meet senior officials from Yemen and the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates, a key pillar of the Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government. "The human cost of war in Yemen is incalculable," Hunt said ahead of his trip. "The only solution is now a political decision to set aside arms and pursue peace." Aid groups fear for the safety of nearly 600,000 people living in Hodeida -- and for millions of others dependent on its port for what little food and humanitarian aid trickle into impoverished, blockaded Yemen. Civilians killed A military official in Hodeida on Monday confirmed seven civilians had died, without giving further details. Medics in hospitals across the city reported 110 rebels and 32 loyalist fighters killed overnight, according to a tally by AFP. Sources at the Al-Alfi military hospital, seized by the rebels during their 2014 takeover, said charred body parts had been delivered there overnight. Military sources confirmed that the Saudi-led alliance had targeted the rebels with multiple air strikes. The rebels have begun to evacuate their wounded to Sanaa, the capital, which the Huthis seized during a 2014 takeover that included a string of ports on Yemen's coastline. Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the Yemeni government's fight against the Iran-backed Huthis in 2015, triggering what the UN now calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The Saudi-led alliance drove the rebels from the Yemeni coast, but have failed to retake Hodeida despite multiple attempts. Nearly 600 people have been killed since clashes erupted in Hodeida on November 1, ending a temporary suspension in a government offensive to take the city that began in June. International pressure The Saudi-led alliance has come under intense international pressure to end the conflict in Yemen, particularly following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist killed in his country's consulate in Istanbul on October 2, was an ardent critic of Prince Mohammed, who has spearheaded the kingdom's controversial role in the Yemen war. Multiple countries, including Germany and Norway, have announced the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi's killing. The United Nations' Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, is pushing for peace talks between the Huthis and Saudi-backed government by the end of the year. Multiple rounds of UN-brokered negotiations have failed to find a solution to the Yemen conflict. The United States, which for years provided military training and aerial refueling for the Saudi-led coalition, on Saturday announced it would end its inflight refueling support for the alliance. The coalition has been blacklisted by the United Nations for the killing and maiming of children, particularly in air raids on rebel-held territory. The alliance accuses Iran of smuggling arms to the Huthis through the Hodeida port. Tehran denies the charges. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 10,000 people have been killed in the Yemen war since 2015. But rights groups believe the toll may be five times as high.

149 killed in 24 hours in Yemen's Hodeida: Report

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