Small Wars Journal

U.S. Commander Urges More Transparency in Yemen Strike on School Bus

Tue, 08/28/2018 - 12:22am

U.S. Commander Urges More Transparency in Yemen Strike on School Bus by Eric Schmitt – New York Times

The top American air commander in the Middle East is urging the Saudi-led coalition of Arab nations to be more forthcoming about an investigation into an airstrike in northern Yemen earlier this month that struck a school bus, killing more than 40 children.

The comments by Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian reflected increasing exasperation by United States officials over the conflict that has spiraled into a humanitarian disaster.

“There’s a level of frustration we need to acknowledge,” General Harrigian said in a wide-ranging telephone interview last week. “They need to come out and say what occurred there.”

His comments were the latest, and bluntest, public critique of the Saudi-led air campaign against Houthi rebels that have been voiced by a growing number of senior American military, Pentagon and diplomatic officials seeking to distance the United States from the conflict - but who are facing increasing questions about American support for the air war with every errant strike…

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