The U.N. has been investigating war crimes in the war on Yemen, and their monitors have confirmed what critics of the bombing campaign feared:
A Saudi-led coalition fighting in neighboring Yemen has targeted civilians with air strikes and some of the attacks could be crimes against humanity [bold mine-DL], United Nations sanctions monitors said in an annual report to the Security Council.
Saudi Arabia have been caught bombing civilians using U.S.-made bombs, violating both U.S. and International law. Saudi Arabia has come under heavy condemnation for committing war crimes as a September 2015 bombing campaign killed 2,800 civilians, including 500 children. Among those killed were 135 wedding guests in Yemen. Human Right Watch have slammed Saudi Arabia, saying that the bombings “have indiscriminately killed and injured civilians“. Telesurtv.net reports: This conflict is part of a regional power struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
On January 19, representatives from Libya’s rival factions negotiating in Tunis announced they had formed a unity government comprised of a new 32-member cabinet.
Yay.
Six days later, lawmakers for the country’s internationally-recognized Parliament in Tobruk rejected the proposal.
Damn.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- moon of encouraging terrorists. The remarks followed Ban Ki-moon’s condemnation of Israel’s “provocative” settlements, when he said that the attacks by Palestinians (which he also condemned) are a natural reaction to the occupation. Referring to the Palestinians, Mr Ban said it was human nature for oppressed peoples to react to occupation.
On Tuesday, Ammon Bundy, his brother Ryan, and an “official” spokesperson for the group of militiamen occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge were stopped by the FBI en route to a public event where the group planned to address crowds of supporters and detractors alike.
The Bundys were arrested, as was Ryan Payne, Shawna Cox, and Brian Cavalier.
The group’s spokesperson - one Robert “LaVoy” Finicum - was not arrested. Rather, he was shot and killed by authorities.