US killer drone strikes central Yemen

April 19 HSN

Nearly 20 people were killed in the killer drone attack carried out in the province of Baida on Saturday.

The drone targeted a vehicle travelling towards the southern province of Shabwa. A Yemen security official confirmed the attack. The United States is the only country that operates drones in Yemen.

Over the past years, Washington has regularly used unmanned aerial vehicles for attacks and spying in several Muslim countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.

The drone strikes have escalated significantly over the past months, which have resulted in a hike in anti-US sentiments in the targeted countries, with people holding numerous protests against the deadly air attacks.The airstrikes were initiated under former US president, George W. Bush, and have been stepped up under the administration of President Barack Obama.

Washington claims the attacks target militants, but evidence on the ground shows civilians usually fall victim to such attacks.

The United Nations says the drone strikes pose a growing challenge to the rule of international law.

The world body and several human rights organizations have already identified the United States as the world’s number one user of “targeted killings” largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.