Saudi King Absolves His Troops of Any Future Accountability for Their Conduct in Yemen War

Local Editor

A royal decree by Saudi King Salman ‘pre-exonerated’ all troops fighting in Yemen from any accountability issues they may face over their conduct in the brutal war, in which thousands of civilians were martyred and wounded.

A statement announcing the early pardon, released by Saudi Arabia's state news agency SPA, said the pardon extends to “all military men across the armed forces” taking part in the attack.

The royal decree was issued following “reports submitted” by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It exonerates troops involved in hostilities from “their respective military and disciplinary penalties, in regard of some rules and disciplines.” The statement issued by the SPA wasn’t specific as to any particular crimes, but said the move was to show appreciation for what it referred to as the "heroics and sacrifices" of the soldiers.

The Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Yemen since March 2015.

Since the start of the Saudi-led campaign, the coalition has been repeatedly accused of killing dozens of civilians in its airstrikes.

Last year, a Human Rights Watch official, Ahmed Benchemsi, told RT that 61 documented airstrikes, all conducted by the coalition, “may amount indeed to war crimes, that have killed nearly 900 civilians and have hit civilian areas, including markets, schools, hospitals and private homes.”

Later last year, a massive report presented to the UN Security Council, concluded that in eight out of ten inquiries into Saudi bombings “the panel found no evidence that the airstrikes had targeted legitimate military objectives.”

In all ten investigations, the panel said “it is almost certain that the coalition did not meet international humanitarian law requirements of proportionality and precautions in attack.”

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team