Saudi monarchy destroys beautiful historic Yemeni homes

This video says about itself:

Old Sana’a, Yemen – Architecture

25 March 2008

The city of Sana’a is a living museum. Considered to be one of the oldest cities in the world (2,500+ years old), and Old Sana’a protected by UNESCO to prevent new buildings destroying the old, Sana’a is a place where you can spend hours, if not days, wandering the streets and feeling like you’ve stepped back in time. Life here has simply not changed enough to make you feel like it is the 21st century.

The most noticeable aspect of Old Sana’a is the architecture. The buildings are unlike anything else in the Western world, with brown exteriors with whitewashed details, stained glass, and no two buildings that look identical. Most of the buildings are tower houses, which are simply tall buildings with a central staircase that winds its way to the top. In ancient times, the bottom floor was reserved for the animals, while the upper floors were for the kitchen and families. In some cases, this still exists. To see detailed craftsmanship, look at the front doors of each building. Some are new, but many are old…very old, “modernized” by adding a padlock to them. With laws preventing the buildings from being destroyed, and from new buildings being built, the city is literally a living museum.

That was then. Now, however, the royal family of Saudi Arabia, staunch allies of the Pentagon, the CIA and David Cameron in Britain, have decided that their destruction of ancient Islamic buildings in Mecca for their new palace, in their own country, is not enough yet.

They have started destroying beautiful ancient buildings, and the people who live in them, in neighbouring countries.

Translated from NOS TV in the Netherlands:

Unesco furious about bombing of Sanaa

Today, 16:33

Unesco is furious about the bombing of the Yemeni capital Sanaa, early this morning. According to the UN agency “the magnificent complex of traditional houses in the al-Qasimi neighborhood” was destroyed. Houses and historic buildings were damaged and there were at least five deaths.

The Bulgarian UNESCO chief Irina Bokova was “deeply saddened” about the deaths and the damage that has been done. “I am shocked by the images of these magnificent tower houses with their beautiful gardens that now lie in ruins.” The decorated towers made of brick are world famous. They are an integral part of the Yemeni identity and national pride, says UNESCO.

Saudi Arabia

The bombings were carried out by the coalition led by Saudi Arabia. …

Witnesses say that aircraft of the coalition tried to bomb the home of a senior rebel leader and several houses were hit. The impact threatens to make more homes collapse.

This 20 September 2016 AFP video is called Aircraft of the Saudi-led coalition hits the UNESCO-listed Old City of Yemen’s rebel-held capital Sanaa.

Another video, from today 12 June 2015, used to be called Yemen: Saudi aircraft bombed the Old Sanaa. It used to say about itself (my translation from Arabic):

Homes in the historic city of Sanaa were destroyed by air raids by the Saudi aggressors, at dawn on Friday 12 June.

They launched aircraft attacks on the capital, targeting the city’s historic neighbourhoods and Marib Street and Faj Attan.

And the destruction on the first images showed that many historic houses in the old city of Sanaa were destroyed, falling on the heads of their inhabitants, in a new offensive by the Saudi air force against Yemenis.

This 12 June 2015 video is about another bombing of ancient Sanaa. It is called UNESCO condemns bombing of Sanaa’s Old City.

Another video used to say:

UNESCO condemns severe bombing damage to Sanaa old town

13 May 2015

The United Nations cultural agency condemned “severe damage” caused to heritage sites in Yemen, such as Sanaa’s old city, during intense bombing of the Yemeni capital.

UNESCO director general Irina Bokova said the bombing had caused severe damage to many historic buildings in the Yemeni capital, while the old city of Saada and the archaeological site of the pre-Islamic walled city of Baraqish, had also suffered damages.

Sanaa’s old city, situated in a mountain valley, has been inhabited for over 2,500 years and was a major center for the propagation of Islam, boasting over 100 mosques, and over 6,000 houses built before the 11th century. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1986.

Yemen: Sanaa’s Old City at Risk: here.