YEMENI STUDENTS TRAGEDY

RIYADH : A Saudi-lead coalition in Yemen said on Saturday it accepted that an air attack last month that killed dozens of people, including children travelling on a bus -

Was unjustified and pledged to hold accountable anyone who has contributed to the error.

The rare concession follows mounting international pressure, including from allies, to do more to limit civilian casualties in a 3 1/2  year civil war that has killed more than 10,000  people and pushed the already impoverished country to the brink of famine.

The Western-backed alliance fighting the Iranian-aligned Houthi group in Yemen said at the time that the Aug 9 air strikes at a market in Saada province had targeted missile launchers used to attack southern Saudi Arabia a day earlier and accused the Houthis of using children as  human shields.

The Joint Incident Assessment Team [JIAT] , an investigation body set up by the coalition, said on Saturday that the strikes had been based on intelligence indicating the bus was carrying Houthi leaders, a legitimate military target, but-

Delays in executing the strike receiving a  no-strike order should be further investigated.  [Reuters].