At least 131 killed as airstrike hits Yemen wedding partySeptember 29, 2015 - 14:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 131 people died after an airstrike hit a wedding party in Yemen, according to a media report on Tuesday, September 29, USA Today reports. Twenty-eight people were initially reported dead when the Saudi-led coalition against Shiite rebels known as Houthis mistakenly hit the gathering Monday. Tuesday, a medic at a local hospital said the death toll had risen to 131 in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the four-year-long civil war, according to Reuters. On Monday, locals said two missiles struck tents in the Red Sea village of al-Wahga, where a man affiliated with the Houthis was holding his wedding reception, the news agency reported. The Saudi-led coalition, which began the airstrikes in March, said it was not responsible for the incident, but witnesses said warplanes targeted the party and Yemeni officials acknowledged that there had been a mistake, according to the BBC. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the incident Monday. "The Secretary-General has consistently stated that there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen. Its continuation will only bring more human suffering and destruction," his spokesperson said in a statement. The statement said that any intentional attack against civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and should be independently investigated. In figures released Tuesday, the UN said at least 2,355 civilians have been killed in the conflict from the end of March to Sept. 24. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |