[JURIST] The UK Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) [official website] said in a report [report, PDF] Monday that it can find no clear evidence that Saudi Arabia has violated international humanitarian law (IHL) in Yemen. Conceding that it has been “unable to form a complete understanding of the Coalition’s regard for IHL in its operations in Yemen as they do not have access to all the information required to do so,” the FCO rejected the contention that the UK needed to suspend arms sales [Guardian report] to Saudi Arabia. Critics argue that this refusal to suspend arms sales is a prioritization [RT report] of profits over lives. This report was a response to arguments made by select committees recommending the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

The rapidly deteriorating situation in Yemen has sparked significant international concern. Last month UN experts investigating the October 8 attack on a packed funeral hall in the Yemeni capital, which is currently under rebel control, accused [JURIST report] the Saudi coalition of violating international humanitarian law. In September independent UN human rights expert Alfred de Zayas said [JURIST report] that “[a]rms deals are a major threat to security, peace and human rights.” Also in September international human rights groups issued a joint letter [JURIST report] to the permanent representatives of member and observer states of the UN Human Rights Council urging them “to support the High Commissioner’s call [JURIST report] for an international, independent investigation into civilian deaths and injuries in Yemen.” In July Human Rights Watch urged [JURIST report] Saudi Arabia and other coalition members to create an independent international inquiry into their attacks on civilian economic structures in Yemen. In March two human rights groups called [JURIST report] for the US, the UK and France to stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia due to accusations and evidence that the weapons are being used in attacks against Yemen.