Yemeni Parliament Votes to Ban U.S. Drones

Yemeni Parliament Votes to Ban U.S. Drones

Illustration image (123rf)

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Illustration image (123rf)
Illustration image (123rf)

An anti-drone motion was passed by Yemen’s parliament on Sunday, banning drone attacks. The symbolic vote comes amid growing anger against US unmanned aircrafts used to kill off Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists. Concerns for civilians are also on the rise.

“Members of parliament voted to stop what drones are doing in Yemeni airspace, stressing the importance of preserving innocent civilian lives against any attack and maintaining Yemeni sovereignty,” SABA news agency reported.

The non-binding motion needs to be approved by the president in order to have any political weight. At the moment, the motions passed by the Yemeni parliament are seen as no more than recommendations to the government, Reuters stressed.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

According to RT Washington has recently increased the intensity of drone strikes in Yemen in an offensive against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), despite widespread criticism sparked by the fact that strikes are far from “surgical.” Yemen is considered to be AQAP’s main foothold of what is deemed the most active wing of the militant network.

The success of the US campaign remains a very heated topic of debate. Some argue that the drone strikes put civilian lives in danger, leading to rising casualties, while at the same time increasing sympathy towards AQAP and fostering resentment against the US.

Others feel that the US campaign is needed to eliminate Al-Qaeda. Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi told Reuters in September that the drone strikes were a “necessary evil” and a “very limited affair,” that occur only with Yemeni consultation.