DHAKA: The White House on Saturday condemned a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on a funeral home in Yemen that local health officials said killed at least 155 people.
“US security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check,” US National Security Council Spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
“Even as we assist Saudi Arabia regarding the defense of their territorial integrity, we have and will continue to express our serious concerns about the conflict in Yemen and how it has been waged.”
Price added that the US would reevaluate its support for the coalition in its fight to prevent Houthi rebels allied with Iran and forces loyal to Yemen’s deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh from taking power, reports the CNN.
“In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday the Saudi-led coalition denied accusations by local officials that it was responsible for the attack.
“The coalition is aware of such reports and is certain that it is possible that other causes of bombing (are) to be considered," coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed Asiri was quoted.
Witnesses of Saturday’s airstrike in Sanaa reported multiple civilian casualties at the funeral hall, where hundreds of people had gathered to mourn the death of rebel-appointed Interior Minister Jalal al Rowaishan’s father.
In addition to the reported deaths, hundreds of funeral attendees were also wounded in the strike, local health officials said.
At least 20 people lost limbs, according to medical staff at the German Hospital in Sanaa.
Robert Mardini, regional director for the International Committee of the Red Cross, condemned what he called an “outrageous loss of civilian life.”
“Civilians in Yemen have already paid far too heavy a price these past 18 months,” he said in a statement.
BDST: 0813/1008 HRS, OCT 09, 2016
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