Arms supplied by UK, U.S. killed civilians in Yemen, report says
PBS NewsHourNov 25, 2022
The Facts
An Oxfam report published on Wednesday says that US and UK weapons used in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition killed at least 87 civilians and wounded 136 others in just over a year.
The report, which covered the period between January 2021 and February 2022, said that the UK government has ignored a “pattern of harm,” arguing that it amounts to legal grounds for Britain to limit arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The West's role in the influx of weapons in the conflict— and by extension, its role in the country's crisis — can't be overlooked. As it hypocritically denounces Iran's suspected supply of weapons, Western countries themselves continue to heavily arm Saudi Arabia in the hopes of cozying up with the oil-rich nation, and innocent civilians are paying the price.
Pro-establishment narrative
The West's involvement in the conflict goes far beyond Saudi Arabia's worth as an ally; it's a response to the Iran-backed Houthis, who are a terrorist organization. Even though the Saudis have met some of the Houthis’ demands, the rebels won’t let up, leaving the Saudis with no choice but to continue their efforts.
