Escalating Saudi–UAE accusations highlight allegations of war crimes in Yemen
SANAA, Feb. 15 (YPA) – The growing exchange of accusations between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates is being viewed by observers as powerful evidence of alleged war crimes committed during the conflict in Yemen, which began in March 2015.
Mounting Accusations and Implicit Acknowledgments
Tensions between the two coalition partners have escalated steadily, with each side accusing the other of violations in areas under their respective control in eastern and southern Yemen. Allegations have included the operation of secret detention facilities, human rights abuses, torture, and, more recently, responsibility for attacks on civilians beyond their zones of influence.
Amid this escalation, commentators point to what they described as implicit acknowledgments of responsibility for some of the conflict’s most notorious incidents, including the 2016 airstrike on the Great Hall in Sanaa and the 2018 attack on a school bus in Saada province.
Saudi media outlets have reportedly attributed some of these incidents to Emirati involvement, further deepening the dispute.
The accusations have extended beyond military actions to economic issues. Statements attributed to Dubai’s deputy police chief, Dhahi Khalfan, included claims that Riyadh was exploiting Yemen’s oil resources—an allegation that adds a financial dimension to the political rift.
Questions Over the Saudi-Led Coalition’s Stated Objectives
Analysts argued that the public dispute undermines the coalition’s original justification of restoring Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Instead, critics contend that the conflict increasingly appeared driven by strategic and economic interests, including control over territory and natural resources.
Legal experts noted that public statements and accusations exchanged between parties to a conflict could carry evidentiary weight in international proceedings, particularly if they suggested knowledge of or involvement in violations such as indiscriminate attacks, targeting of civilian infrastructure, forced displacement, or resource exploitation.
International Accountability
The intensifying rhetoric between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has renewed calls from observers and rights advocates for independent investigations and international accountability mechanisms. They argued that if substantiated, the allegations would warrant urgent action by the international community to ensure accountability and prevent further harm to civilians in Yemen.
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