The Guardian- Even if the UK warned against attacking the vital port of Hodeidah, we bear responsibility for the horrors of this war
The fig leaves covered little to start with, and withered long ago. Now the excuses for our role in Yemens miseryhave fallen away entirely. Theassault on Hodeidahby the Saudi- and Emirati-led coalition can only deepen the worlds worst humanitarian crisis; 70% of the countrys imports pass through the port. Britain and France urged Saudi Arabia not to launch the attack, but the UK has now said its piece. The US rejected a UAE request for a minesweeper for the operation, but as an Emirati officialobserved: Not giving us military assistance is not the same as telling us not to do it.
So they are doing it. They are conducting this war with British-, American- and French-made arms. They are conducting it with western military training and advice;British and US officers have been in the command roomfor airstrikes, and this weekend Le Figaro alleged that there areFrench special forces on the groundin Yemen. They are conducting it with diplomatic shelter from the west. On Friday, the UK and US blocked a Swedish drive for a UN security council statement demanding a ceasefire: Britain, as the penholder on Yemen at the UN security council, nevertheless takes a nakedly pro-Saudi approach to the conflict,the former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell notes. Armssales and security interests dictate.