Hypocritical Propaganda: Coalition Claims Houthis Were Behind Al-Hudaydah Massacre

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On August 3, a spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition, Colonel Turki Al-Malaki, accused the Houthis of being behind an attack that killed at least 55 civilians in the western Yemeni city of al-Hudaydah a day earlier.

“The coalition follows a strict and transparent approach based on the rules of international law. We pursue any allegations and if there is any responsibility we will hold it transparently … Coalition did not carry out any operations in al-Hudaydah today … Houthi militia are behind killing of civilians in al-Hudaydah on today,” Col. al-Malaki told the UAE-based al-Arabiya TV, according to the Reuters news agency.

While Col. al-Malaki stressed that the Saudi-led coalition is following strict measures to avoid civilian casualties, he didn’t provide any evidence to support his accusations.

On the other side, several Yemen sources and activists confirmed that warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition carried out the deadly airstrikes on the gate of al-Thawrah hospital and a small fishing port in al-Hudaydah on August 2.

Furthermore, experts argue that the high number of casualties and the level of destruction can’t be a result of a mortar attack as Col. al-Malaki claimed. However, a heavy aerial bomb, similar to the ones usually used by the Saudi-led coalition, can cause such loses.

By accusing the Houthis of being behind the brutal attack, the Saudi-led coalition is trying to insure that nothing will stop its offensive on the key port of al-Hudaydah. Col. al-Malaki himself confirmed that the offensive will continue.