U.S. Provides Cover for Use of Banned Weapons in Yemen
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The United States is providing a thinly-veiled cover virtually
legitimising the use of cluster bombs – banned by an international
convention – by Saudi Arabia and its allies in their heavy fighting
against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Asked
if cluster bombs are legitimate weapons of war, “if used
appropriately”, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby told
reporters: “If used appropriately, there are end-use regulations
regarding the use of them. But yes, when used appropriately and
according (to) those end-use rules, it’s permissible.”
“These
weapons can’t distinguish military targets from civilians, and their
unexploded sub-munitions threaten civilians, especially children, even
long after the fighting.” -- Ole Solvang of HRW
But Steve Goose of Human Rights Watch told IPS the State Department official makes reference to “end use regulations.”weapons can’t distinguish military targets from civilians, and their
unexploded sub-munitions threaten civilians, especially children, even
long after the fighting.” -- Ole Solvang of HRW
“Any
recipient of U.S. cluster munitions has to agree not to use them in
populated areas. Saudi Arabia may be violating that requirement. State
and Defence Department officials are looking into that,” he said.
The
Saudi-led coalition of Arab states, which has been uninterruptedly
bombing rebel-controlled Yemen, includes Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan,
the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
The 80
non-signatories to the convention include all 10 countries, plus Yemen.
The United States, which is providing intelligence to the Saudi-led
coalition, is also a non-signatory.
Asked whether it would be
alarming or disconcerting if the coalition, is in fact, using
American-supplied cluster bombs, Kirby told reporters early this week:
“I would just tell you that we remain in close contact, regular contact
with the Saudi Government on a wide range of issues in Yemen.
“We’ve
urged all sides in the conflict – you’ve heard me say this before –
including the Saudis, to take proactive measures to minimize harm to
civilians. We have discussed reports of the alleged use of cluster
munitions with the Saudis,” he added.
Goose said a U.S. Defence
Department official has already said the U.S. is aware that Saudi Arabia
has used cluster munitions, so there is no real need for the State
Department to confirm or deny.
“Cluster munitions should not be used by anyone, anywhere, at any time due to the foreseeable harm to civilians,” Goose added.
He
also said the States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions are
meeting for the first Five Year Review Conference of the convention
next month and are expected to condemn Saudi use and call for a halt.
Cluster bombs have also been used in Syria, South Sudan, Ukraine and by a non-state actor,
the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), among others.
Abdallah Yahya A. Al-Mouallimi (right),
Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN, speaks to
journalists on July 28, 2015 following a Security Council meeting on the
situation in Yemen. At his side is Khaled Hussein Mohamed Alyemany,
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Yemen. Credit: UN Photo/Loey
Felipe
Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN, speaks to
journalists on July 28, 2015 following a Security Council meeting on the
situation in Yemen. At his side is Khaled Hussein Mohamed Alyemany,
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Yemen. Credit: UN Photo/Loey
Felipe
