Three civilians were killed and several others injured on Wednesday evening as a result of US airstrikes targeting residential areas in Sana’a, according to local medical sources.
The attacks caused widespread destruction in the targeted neighbourhoods, while US authorities have not released any details about the intended targets, raising fears of a rising death toll.
This escalation follows a series of US airstrikes, with Sana’a witnessing heavy bombardment on Wednesday morning that targeted Jabal Nuqum to the east of the city, followed by evening strikes on Kamaran Island in the Hodeidah Governorate.
Since mid-March, these attacks have resulted in the deaths of 116 civilians and injuries to 224 others, including women and children.
According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the targeting of civilians or residential areas without distinction constitutes a war crime and violates the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, which obliges warring parties to take all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties.
Moreover, the continued targeting of densely populated areas without an immediate military threat may amount to a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
While Western powers condemn indiscriminate bombings in other parts of the world, the United States continues to carry out airstrikes on populated areas without accountability or any international investigation into their humanitarian consequences.
This stance reflects a double standard in the application of international law, whereby civilian victims are overlooked when the aggressor is backed by major powers.
These US strikes come as part of a wider escalation in the Red Sea, where American forces have targeted areas in Yemen under the pretext of responding to attacks on ships bound for Israeli-occupied territories. These attacks have intensified with the resumption of Israel’s war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Amid these ongoing violations, calls are growing for an international investigation into the impact of the US airstrikes on civilians and for holding those responsible accountable for the severe human losses. And the question arises on how long would they continue enjoying impunity while the international community remains silent on the targeting of civilians.
