S.Arabia denies coalition behind attack on Yemen civilians

“The coalition knows its responsibility and will always acknowledge a mistake if we make it. Take into consideration the chaotic situation in Yemen, with several armed elements and forces active around the country”.

The celebration in Al-Wahijah, a village near the strategic Strait of Bab al-Mandab, turned to tragedy when it was hit by two airstrikes.

Hassan Boucenine, of the Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders, called it the deadliest single incident since the beginning of the conflict.

At least 27 people, a lot of them women and children, were killed on Monday in an air strike on a wedding party in southwestern Yemen, a local official and residents said. The region is largely populated by fishermen and livestock traders.

He later raised the death toll to 40, and said dozens of severely wounded people were brought to area hospitals. Witness Ahmed Nagy said numerous injured were moved in pickup trucks used for transporting animals.

This comes a day after Saudi fighter jets targeted a residential building in the capital, Sana’a, killing civilians including four children and one woman.

The Saudi-led air offensive in Yemen, now in its seventh month, has killed at least 3,500 people, perhaps half of them civilians, according to aid groups.

As part of the campaign, Saudi-led naval forces have imposed a near-blockade to prevent weapons supplies from reaching the Houthis, resulting in long delays and mandatory searches for shippers in the region.

The United States supports Dutch efforts to create an global fact-finding mission on human rights abuses in war-torn Yemen, the USA ambassador to the top U.N. rights body said Monday, setting the stage for tough diplomatic negotiation on the issue with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in coming days.

The statement added that any intentional attack against civilians is considered a serious violation of worldwide humanitarian law and should be investigated through prompt, effective, independent and impartial mechanisms to ensure accountability.