A Saudi-led coalition airstrike killed 17 civilians, including 13 teaching staff and four children, in a raid targeting Houthi militants, medics and witnesses told AFP on Thursday.
Tuesday’s strike hit a building where Houthi militiamen were meeting in offices belonging to the pro-rebel General People’s Congress. The same building also houses offices for a teachers’ union, where staff were meeting to prepare for upcoming exams.
UNICEF condemned the attack in Amran province as “senseless” bloodshed, adding that 20 people were also injured in the raid.
“The educators were gathered together to prepare exams for thousands of children who had missed the end of their school year because of this brutal conflict,” the agency told AFP.
“Working after hours, they had brought their children with them. Some of whom were playing outside when the bomb exploded,” it said.
“A selfless activity turned in a moment into senseless bloodshed."
Medic sources on the ground confirmed the death of 17 civilians, including four children, and added that five Houthi militants were also killed in the attack, AFP reported.
UNICEF said civilian victims have “paid a most terrible price in the continuing conflict in Yemen,” which has killed more than 400 children and injured over 600 others, according to the agency.
