Investigation into strike at Yemeni factory near capital, Sana’a, finds remnants of missiles sold to Saudi Arabia in 90s by UK
Human rights groups say they have uncovered definitive proof a UK-made cruise missile was used to destroy a civilian target in Yemen in September and have called for Britain to end arms sales to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition fighting a bloody campaign against rebel forces there.
Such a use of the missile, made by Marconi and sold to Saudi Arabia during the mid-1990s, was “depressingly predictable”, said Amnesty International, which conducted the investigation alongside Human Rights Watch.
According to research at the scene and interviews with witnesses, the groups say the missile was used on 23 September to destroy a ceramics factory in a village west of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. The factory appeared to have no military purpose, Amnesty said in a statement.
Amnesty said the strike, which killed one person, appeared to violate international law and contradicted British government claims that any use of UK weapons by Saudi-led forces was done lawfully. There had not apparently been an investigation into what happened, it added.
Amnesty has previously urged Britain to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia, given what the organisation describes as an “appalling disregard” for civilian lives by a Riyadh-led coalition which is battling Yemeni Houthi rebels of the Zaydi sect, who are widely seen as being supported by Iran.
Last month, the group said it had found evidence of apparent war crimes in connection with 13 airstrikes around the north-eastern Saada region, which killed about 100 civilians, including 59 children and 22 women.
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/25/uk-made-missile-hit-civilian-target-yemen-say-human-rights-groups
