Ansarullah official reveals extortion attempt by Saudi-led coalition

SANAA, Nov. 4 (YPA) – An official in Ansarullah has revealed extortion attempts carried out by the Saudi-led coalition to get political gains and to press for a political settlement beneficial to the Saudi-led invaders.

In a tweet on Sunday night Abdul Malik al-Ajri described the coalition’s use of the blockade as a tool for bartering and lobbying for political gain as a “war crime.”

“Just as the use of the blockade and the deliberate starvation of civilians as a method of war is a war crime and a serious violation of international humanitarian law, its use in any understandings as a tool for bartering and lobbying for political gain [is a crime too],” he said.

Abdul Malik al-Ajri condemned the practices of blackmailing and bargaining by the coalition.

“The humanitarian issue must be addressed in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, the Rome System and local laws,” he added.

The Saudi-led coalition continues to impose its air embargo and the closure of Sana’a Airport. In the meantime, traffic at Hodeidah port has been restricted by the detention of food, medicine and fuel vessels and prevented from entering the port of Hodeidah for months.

International humanitarian law and international criminal law classify the targeting of civilian lives and of the flow of goods and services necessary to live during war as a war crime.

E.M