Sanaa: Alleged Saudi casualties stem from intercepting Yemen’s defense systems
Yemen’s Foreign Ministry claims Saudi Arabia intercepts over densely populated areas to maximize casualties and says Yemen targets military sites and oil facilities
A Yemeni Foreign Ministry statement, reported via IRNA and citing Saba, alleges that Saudi casualties result from intercepting Yemen’s defense systems, asserts Yemen’s forces avoid civilians, and calls for international accountability while reserving the right to respond.
Tehran-based IRNA reported that Yemen’s Foreign Ministry in Sanaa issued a statement, cited by the Yemeni news agency Saba, asserting that the claims of Saudi casualties arise from Riyadh’s interception of Yemen’s defense systems. The ministry says Saudi Arabia intentionally conducts interception missions over populated areas to cause greater harm. It adds that for 12 years the Yemeni armed forces have shown they do not target civilians or residential districts, but instead focus on military bases and oil facilities that fund the war. The statement condemns the Saudi regime for targeting civilians and says tens of thousands have been killed, a fact it says has been acknowledged by international bodies. It asserts that Yemeni military operations follow religious, ethical, and humanitarian principles. The Foreign Ministry further describes Saudi actions as “criminal and ISIS-like,” urging the international community to assume responsibility for such acts and recalling Saudi conduct in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. Yemen’s government says it reserves the right to respond to any actions that threaten its security and stability.