CONGRESSMAN LIEU STATEMENT ON CIVILIAN DEATHS CAUSED BY SAUDI-LED COALITION AIRSTRIKE IN YEMEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington - Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) has issued the following statement regarding the news that a Saudi-led coalition airstrike killed 10 children while they were studying in a local school in Haydan, Yemen.
In letters to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Mr. Lieu has expressed deep concern over the tragic civilian deathscaused by the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen. Mr. Lieu has also introduced a joint resolution in the House (H.J. RES 90) to provide limitations on the transfer of air-to-ground munitions from the United States to Saudi Arabia.
"I have tried numerous times to work with the Administration to stop the United States from assisting Saudi Arabia in their indiscriminate killing of civilians in Yemen. But when Saudi Arabia continues to kill civilians, and in this case children, enough is enough. Having served on active duty, one of my responsibilities was to teach the Law of War. I am also a graduate of Air War College. The indiscriminate civilian killings by Saudi Arabia look like war crimes to me. In this case, children as young as 8 were killed by Saudi Arabian air strikes. By assisting Saudi Arabia, the United States is aiding and abetting what appears to be war crimes in Yemen. The Administration must stop enabling this madness now."
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