Amnesty Charges US for Civilian Casualties and Banned Missile Usage in Yemen Attacks

Amnesty International said it has evidence that reveal US involvement in airstrikes on suspected Al Qaida hideouts in Yemen late last year, criticizing Washington for allegedly using cluster munitions and not taking precautions to avoid civilian casualties.

A Yemeni parliamentary committee later said in its report on the strike that 41 civilians were killed in the attack as well as militants. 

The US has not officially confirmed a role in the airstrikes, although US officials have previously acknowledged American involvement in the bombing. 

In a statement released Monday, Amnesty said that it has five photographs apparently taken after the attack that indicate the use of cruise missiles and cluster munitions. 

"The fact that so many of the victims were actually women and children indicates that the attack was in fact grossly irresponsible, particularly given the likely use of cluster munitions," said Philip Luther, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Program. 

Copies of the photographs provided by Amnesty show twisted scraps of what appear to be missiles fragments.

The report said the missiles used are designed to carry a payload of cluster munitions that scatter over a vast area, and are only used by US forces.