DHAKA: The Arab coalition, battling Houthi fighters in Yemen, has admitted one of its warplanes had ‘wrongly targeted’ a funeral in Sanaa that killed more than 140 people, and announced disciplinary proceedings.

The October 8 strike in the Yemeni capital prompted an international outcry and strong criticism even from Saudi Arabia’s closest Western allies, reports the Al Jazeera.

“Because of non-compliance with coalition rules of engagement and procedures, and the issuing of incorrect information, a coalition aircraft wrongly targeted the location, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries,” said an inquiry team of the Arab coalition assembled by Saudi Arabia.

“Appropriate action ... must be taken against those who caused the incident, and ... compensation must be offered to the families of the victims.”

The UN released a statement saying the organization’s humanitarian coordinator, as well as the community of nongovernmental organizations in Yemen, were outraged and shocked by the strikes.

In addition to the more than 140 deaths, more than 500 people were wounded in the strikes on the funeral reception for the father of Brigadier Jalal al-Ruweishan, interior minister in the self-proclaimed Houthi-led government.

Hundreds of mourners had gathered in the grand hall of ceremonies on al-Khamseen Street to take part in the ceremony.

The death toll was one of the largest in any single incident since the Arab coalition began military operations to try to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power following his removal by the Houthis in March 2015.

BDST: 2046 HRS, OCT 15, 2016
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