WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On September 28, media reported that Saudi warplanes bombed a wedding celebration in the village of Wahijah, near the port of Mokha on the Red Sea, killing at least 131 people, including eight children.
"We call for an investigation into these reported civilian casualties and for the findings to be reported publicly," Price stated on Friday.
Price noted that the United States has no role in making decisions on the Coalition’s selection of targets in Yemen.
"Nevertheless, we have consistently reinforced to members of the Coalition the imperative of precise targeting," he added.
Price also underscored the importance of thoroughly investigating all credible allegations of civilian casualties.
"We are deeply concerned about recent reports of civilians killed in Mokha… We were also shocked and saddened by the deaths of the Yemen Red Crescent Society volunteers in Taiz on the same day," Price said.
The NSC spokesperson called on all parties of the Yemeni conflict to "do their utmost to avoid harm to civilians and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law."
The Saudi-led coalition of mostly Arab states has been conducting airstrikes in Yemen since March at the request of the country’s ousted President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi against the opposition Houthi rebels.
More than 2,300 civilians have been killed in the Yemeni conflict, while 80 percent of the country’s population is in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
