Saudis Violate Agreed On 5-Day Truce in Yemen
by Stephen Lendman
Riyadh's proposed 5-day ceasefire is a duplicitous thinly veiled PR stunt ignoring what matters most - halting Obama's aggression using Saudis and other regional rogue states as convenient proxies to do his dirty work.
Announced short-term cessation of hostilities is meaningless. Rogue states operate by their own rules.
Saudi terror-bombing continued after its proposed pause, effective 11PM Tuesday evening local time.
Multiple airstrikes targeted Hajja, Saada and Lahij province - in blatant violation of announced truce. Dozens were killed or wounded. Residential areas and civilian infrastructure were struck.
On Wednesday, Arabic language al-Masirah satellite television reported Saudi terror-bombing Malahidh in Saada province.
Clashes were reported between Houthi fighters and anti-rebel elements, including imported takfiri terrorists.
AP News said "fierce combat…in some areas" continues. It ignored ongoing Saudi terror-bombing in its report.
US drone war continues. Overnight Tuesday, a car carrying Houthi fighters was attacked. Thousands of noncombatants have been killed or wounded, many seriously. US-orchestrated/Saudi-led naked aggression continues.
An Iranian cargo ship en route to Yemen carries essential to life food, water, medical supplies and other vitally needed aid.
Iranian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Brig. General Massoud Jazzayeri warned Tehran will retaliate against any nation targeting its vessel.
"Attacking the Iranian Red Crescent aid ship will spark war in the region," he said. "And this fire may not be put out or brought under control."
"The US and Saudi Arabia should know that Iran's self-restraint (is) limited."
Relief workers, activists and doctors on board represent the Islamic Republic of Iran's Red Crescent Society. They're risking their lives to help desperately needy Yemenis.
Iranian warships accompany the humanitarian cargo vessel. It's headed for Houthi controlled Hodaida - Yemen's 4th largest city.
According to Iranian Admiral Hossein Azad, "(t)he 34th fleet, which is currently in the Gulf of Aden, has a special responsibility to protect the Iranian humanitarian aid ship."
He referred to a destroyer and support vessel patrolling near Yemen in international waters. Tehran warned Saudis against trying to block its humanitarian mission. Washington issued its own warning.
State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said "(w)e would discourage any provocative action." US Army spokesman Col. Steve Warren called Tehran's humanitarian mission "some sort of stunt."
Saudi military spokesman Brig. General Ahmed Asiri said no ships attempting to reach Yemen will be permitted to dock without Riyadh permission. What happens when Iranian vessels reach Yemeni waters remains to be seen.
US/Saudi blockade denies Yemenis desperately needed essential to life supplies. Killing them by deprivation is part of Washington's strategy to regain control over its former client state.
Deaths and injuries are far greater than reported numbers. Civilian men, women and children suffer most.
Human suffering is extreme. Obama bears full responsibility. His rogue regional allies share it.
UN and Western authorities able to act responsibly against US/Saudi aggression permit it by failing to denounce it.
Media scoundrels are complicit - failing to tell readers and viewers what they most need to know, ignoring US/Saudi aggression entirely, blaming Houthis irresponsibly for their high crimes.
Expect continued conflict whether or not a pause in fighting is honored.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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