Yemen conflict: 31 civilians killed in air strikes; Saudi fighter jet crashes
- Coalition statement said the aircraft came down Friday in northern Al-Jawf province during an operation to support government forces
- Houthi rebels said they will release footage showing the launch of its ‘advanced surface-to-air missile’ and the moment it downed the jet
At least 31 civilians were killed in strikes on Yemen on Saturday, the United Nations said, following a Saudi-led operation in response to one of its fighter jet crashing, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels claiming to have shot it down.
The Tornado aircraft came down Friday in northern Al-Jawf province during an operation to support government forces, a rare crash that prompted operations in the area by a Saudi-led military coalition fighting the rebels.
The deadly violence follows an upsurge in fighting in northern Yemen between the warring parties that threatens to worsen the war-battered country’s humanitarian crisis.
“Preliminary field reports indicate that on 15 February as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit Al-Hayjah area … in Al-Jawf governorate,” said a statement from the office of the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen.
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Lise Grande denounced the “terrible strikes”.
“So many people are being killed in Yemen – it’s a tragedy and it’s unjustified,” she said.
