Is Saudi Arabia Committing War Crimes in Yemen Using U.S. Supplied White Phosphorus?

Along with an innumerable array of weapons from jet fighters to bombs to grenades, U.S. firms are major weapons suppliers to foreign governments as cleared by the U.S. officials.  Some of the more vicious weapons sold to selected countries are those containing white phosphorus, a substance that creates enormous amounts of heat and smoke and which can quickly burn the flesh down to the bone if used on humans.

Munitions containing white phosphorus are being sold by U.S. firms to our “good friends” in Saudi Arabia, supposedly with stern warnings concerning their use.

Saudi Arabia appears to be using U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions in its war in Yemen…

No surprise there.  But how and where specifically are they using those munitions?

It is unclear exactly how the Saudis are using the munitions, but the government has already received widespread condemnation for its indiscriminate bombing in civilian areas since its campaign against rebel forces in Yemen began in 2015.

…

Footage and images and social media posts showing the munition indicate that it is being used near the Saudi-Yemen border — in Najran province — and around the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.

So we are to believe that our government does not know what the Saudis are doing with a weapon that, if used on civilians, would constitute a war crime.  But at the same time, evidence is surfacing that white phosphorus weapons are being used around the Yemeni capital.  Probably a lot of civilians there, wouldn’t you think?  So what is our government doing about the possible use of weapons supplied by us to commit crimes.

The [State Department] official said the department was looking into reports of Saudi forces’ improperly using U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions. “If a country is determined to have used U.S.-provided weapons for unauthorized purposes, the U.S. will take appropriate corrective action,” the official said.

And our Peace Prize winning president has opened the flood gates to the sale of weapons to his friends the Saudis.  What do you think is the chance that the Obama State Department will “take appropriate corrective action” against any use of white phosphorus by the Saudis against Yemeni civilians?

Easy question to answer:  none.

Source:  Washington Post