Report: Saudi-led coalition uses German weapons in Yemen

SANAA, Feb. 27 (YPA) -The German news network “Deutsche Welle” has published a report showing that the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen relies heavily on German weapons and technology, despite Berlin’s official decision to stop arms sales to Riyadh.

The report, in which DW and other media within the framework of the German arms project participated, provided photographs and video footage that shows weapons and equipment produced in Germany on the battlefields in Yemen.

A photograph of the Yemeni port of al-Mukalla, which is under coalition forces’ control, shows a warship built in Germany. The report also provided photographs of other German-made ships docked at the port of Assab, Eritrea.

Experts confirm that there are UAE army vehicles filmed in southwest Yemen that are equipped with Fewas-type weapons towers made by the German company Dynamit Nobel Defence.

There is also a video recording fron October 2018 by an unnamed Arab news agency, which shows Emirati tanks of the LECLERC model with an additional shield of type Clara produced by the same company.

The report furthermore mentions warplanes made in Germany, such as the Eurofighter, the Tornado reconnaissance aircraft and the Airbus A330 MRTT supply aircraft, which are participating in the Saudi Air Force operations against the Yemeni Army and Popular Committees in Yemen.

German Economy Minister Peter Altmeyer said he did not have information on the subject and the German government has not made any comment on this matter. German companies specializing in the manufacture of weapons have confirmed that they are acting under the law.

Germany officially decided to stop the export of weapons to Saudi Arabia against the backdrop of the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul early October.

E.M