Iran Strongly Condemns US Air Attacks On Yemen
In a stark condemnation, Iran’s Foreign Ministry criticized recent US military airstrikes in Yemen, terming them deliberate assaults on civilian populations and vital infrastructure. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei characterized these incidents as “war crimes and clear violations of Yemen’s sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Charter.” The airstrikes, launched over the previous days, have reportedly targeted civilian areas including the Sana’a, Sa’ada, and Al-Jawf governorates.
According to reports, nearly 70 inmates were killed and more than 50 were wounded in a devastating airstrike on a detention facility housing African migrants in Yemen’s Sa’ada province. Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, which governs significant areas under its control, condemned the US strike as a “brutal crime,” accusing Washington of deliberately targeting civilians under the pretext of military operations. This statement resonates with broader criticisms that the ongoing conflict has regularly resulted in widespread civilian casualties and destruction of essential infrastructure.
“The airstrikes pose a growing risk to the civilian population in Yemen, particularly to women and children,” stated UN chief’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.
Iranian officials, including Baghaei, have also expressed deep regret over what they perceive as UN inaction regarding these repeated breaches of international humanitarian law. Highlighting broader concerns, Tehran linked these developments to escalating regional instability, describing US actions as exacerbating already critical security issues across West Asia.
Israeli Airstrikes in Syria Draw Iranian Condemnation
Simultaneously, the Iranian Foreign Ministry also condemned Israel’s recent military strikes against multiple Syrian provinces, including the capital Damascus and key regions such as Latakia, Idlib, Hama, Quneitra, and Daraa. These attacks come just hours after another strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, which the Syrian government labeled a “dangerous escalation.”
Iranian spokesperson Baghaei asserted that Israel’s strategic goal was to degrade Syria’s military and civilian infrastructure to accomplish “malicious ambitions.” Baghaei’s comments underscored Tehran’s long-held stance accusing Israel of fomenting regional instability, particularly in the context of the concurrent conflicts occurring in Gaza and Lebanon.
“We urge the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to activate its mechanisms during this crisis to pressure the United Nations Security Council into taking immediate action against these clear violations by Israel,” noted Baghaei.
Iran’s appeals to international organizations, notably the OIC, are part of its strategy to rally diplomatic pressure against Israeli military operations. This diplomatic push highlights an ongoing Iranian policy emphasizing international responses to perceived Israeli and US aggressions.
Historical and Regional Context
The recent escalation by the US and Israel in Yemen and Syria respectively is set against a backdrop of longstanding geopolitical tensions. In Yemen, conflict erupted in 2014 when the Ansarullah movement took over the capital Sana’a, leading an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia—supported by the US—to intervene militarily in 2015. The conflict has resulted in what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, with millions displaced and facing extreme food insecurity.
The US involvement in Yemen, primarily through logistic support and arms provision to Saudi Arabia, has frequently drawn criticism amid allegations of contributing to civilian casualties. Human rights organizations have repeatedly highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, urging involved parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.
In Syria, the conflict which began in 2011 has drawn numerous international actors into its complex battle lines. Israel has periodically conducted airstrikes targeting sites linked to Iranian-backed groups or government forces, citing concerns over weapon transfers and strategic positioning of opposing forces near its borders. These actions often prompt sharp reactions from Tehran, given Iran’s close alliance with Syrian leadership and mutual opposition to Israel’s regional policies.
The broader implications of these recent actions are significant, potentially affecting ongoing international diplomatic efforts aiming at peace negotiations and stabilizing regional security. Iran’s repeated calls for international intervention to halt these military actions underline the intricate geopolitical dynamics and the difficulty in diplomatically addressing such multilayered conflicts. Tehran’s consistent stance emphasizes respect for national sovereignty and international legal frameworks, advocating for broader international cooperation to mitigate regional instability.
Despite these calls, tensions continue to escalate, emphasizing the need for renewed diplomatic commitments from international stakeholders and regional powers to prevent further humanitarian crises and regional destabilization. The international community faces a critical challenge in effectively responding to these complex conflicts and addressing their humanitarian fallout.