Middle East? “Civis are paying an unacceptable price for operations”

“ Ocivilians are paying an unacceptable price for military operations in the Middle East,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric in a statement.

“ The deaths, injuries and destruction in Saudi Arabia in recent days again illustrate the high price that hostilities are charging civilians,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has been the target of several attacks coordinated by the Huthis rebels of Yemen, supported by Iran.

In the last few days, Riyadh airport has been bombarded several times, one of which has caused at least 13 deaths and more than 300 injuries.

Operations at the capital airport were suspended until at least next Saturday for damage assessment.

At the same time, “in Yemen, the scale of loss of lives, displacements and damage to civil infrastructure — particularly in Aden and Sanaa — is increasing at an alarming rate,” said the ICRC official.

Hostilities were resumed in Yemen in July between the Huthis and Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, and intensified in September, reaching an unprecedented level.

Last month, the Huthis rebels made an important breakthrough and took control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the most strategic maritime routes on the planet, through which about 12% of world trade and oil in the world, as well as several western coastal cities such as Mocha and Dhubab.

“ An even greater escalation of hostilities would be disastrous for tens of millions. Urgent efforts must be made to reduce tension and protect civilians from major damage,” Mirjana Spoljaric said.

“ Civilians and civilian assets must be spared in the attacks. The parties to the conflict are obliged, in all circumstances, to distinguish between civilians, civil property and military objectives,” he stressed, warning that attacks on ports, airports and critical infrastructure “have serious consequences for the populations that depend on them.”.