U.N. official says 'unjustified' killings in Yemen conflict represent 'shocking' failure to 'protect civilians'

Yemen’s Houthi rebels said air raids conducted by the Western-backed Saudi-UAE-led military coalition killed more than 30 civilians Saturday just one day after the rebels said they shot down a Saudi jet fighter with a surface-to-air missile. The United Nations confirmed Saturday’s death toll.

The Houthis said women and children were among the dead, and the coalition acknowledged the «possibility of collateral damage» during their search-and-rescue mission for the downed plane.

The conflict which began in 2015 after the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, forced out former Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, prompting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to support loyalist forces. Since then, Lise Grande, the U.N.’s humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said there’s been little done to protect the Yemeni people.

«So many people are being killed in Yemen — it’s a tragedy and it’s unjustified,» she said in light of the most recent attacks. «Under international humanitarian law parties which resort to force are obligated to protect civilians. Five years into this conflict and belligerents are still failing to uphold this responsibility. It’s shocking.» Read more at Al Jazeera and BBC.