The official spokesman for the Joint Incidents Assessment Team in Yemen, Legal Counsellor Mansour Al-Mansour, refuted a number of allegations made by UN agencies and international organizations regarding mistakes committed by the coalition forces to support legitimacy in Yemen during its military operations inside Yemen.
Al-Mansour reviewed, during a press conference held at the Armed Forces Officers Club in Riyadh today (Wednesday), the results of evaluating a number of incidents included in these allegations.
And in a statement issued by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team regarding the allegation that the coalition forces targeted a vehicle carrying civilians near the village of Al-Farsh in the Haradh district of Hajjah governorate on 05/20/2019.
Counselor Al-Mansour explained that on the morning of (May 20, 2019), a drone flew over the village of (Al-Farsh), and despite that, the villagers continued their daily activities, as a group of villagers boarded a small truck that is usually used in public transportation in the area in order to go to the market. In the (Al-Haija) area, and while they were on their way to the market, an air strike hit the vehicle that was driving near a medical clinic, 2 km from the (Al-Haija) area on the (Ahem Triangle) road that connects the village of (Al-Farsh) in the (Al-Haija) area ( My events attached).
He added: “The Joint Incidents Assessment Team researched and investigated the facts about the incident, and after examining all documents, including the air mission order, the daily task inventory schedule, the mission implementation procedures, post-mission reports, satellite images, and the rules of engagement for the coalition forces, And the principles and provisions of international humanitarian law and its customary rules, and after evaluating the evidence, the joint team found that (Al-Farsh) village is located in the southern part of (Haradh) district in (Hajjah) governorate.
By examining the air missions carried out by the coalition forces on (05/20/2019), which is the date mentioned in the claim, the joint team found that the coalition forces did not carry out any air missions in Haradh district.
By examining the air missions carried out by the coalition forces for the day before and the day after the date mentioned in the claim, the joint team found the following:
1. On (19/05/2019 AD), a day before the date mentioned in the claim, the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions in Haradh district.
2. On (21/05/2019 AD), one day after the date mentioned in the claim, the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions in Haradh district.
The specialists of the joint team studied (satellite images) before and after the date of the claim of the claim site, and the following was found:
1. The coordinate mentioned in the claim is located southeast of the village of (Al-Farsh) in the district of Haradh, at a distance of (760) meters, in an agricultural area and there are no paved roads near it.
2. There are no traces of air strikes on or near the claim site.
In view of this; The joint team concluded that the coalition forces did not target a (vehicle) carrying civilians in the Haradh district of Hajjah governorate on (05/20/2019 AD) as claimed.
With regard to the official statement of the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on (January 18, 2022 AD), which includes that the air strikes launched by the coalition on the capital, Sana’a, last night at approximately (21:25) when a house was targeted in the (Maeen) neighborhood of City (Sana’a).
And the tenth periodic report issued by the work of the National Committee to Investigate Allegations of Human Rights Violations in Yemen, which includes that at 9:40 minutes in the evening on (January 17, 2022 AD), an overflight was heard, followed immediately by the fall and explosion of a missile on the house of (A.Q.J). ) and the house of (F.R.) located in Al-Thawra Directorate in Al-Madina Al-Libiyya neighborhood, Tripoli neighborhood, Al-Sittin Street, as a result of which there were deaths and injuries.
Counselor Al-Mansour explained that the Joint Incident Assessment Team conducted research and fact-finding about the incident, and after reviewing all documents, including the air mission order, the daily task inventory schedule, mission implementation procedures, post-mission reports, video recordings of the executed mission, and satellite images, open sources, the list of sites prohibited from being targeted by the coalition forces (NSL), the rules of engagement of the coalition forces, the principles and provisions of international humanitarian law and its customary rules, and after evaluating the evidence; The joint team found that the location mentioned in the claim is (two buildings) for demonstrators located in the (Libyan neighborhood) in the eastern part of (Al-Thawra) directorate in (Sana’a).
By examining the air missions carried out by the coalition forces on (01/17/2022 AD), the joint team found that the coalition forces had received intelligence information indicating the presence of prominent leaders of the armed Houthi militia in a specific location that includes (two buildings) that are frequently used to hold meetings in (Al-Thawra) district. in the city of (Sana’a), which is a legitimate military target whose targeting achieves a tangible, direct and certain military advantage, and therefore it has lost the prescribed legal protection, due to its use in effective contributions to military actions based on Article (52) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions and Rule (8) ) of customary international humanitarian law.
The degrees of verification were available through the reconnaissance and monitoring system and the assurances of ground sources about the arrival and presence of prominent leaders of the armed Houthi militia in a specific location that includes (two buildings) in the (Al-Thawra) directorate in the city (Sana’a), including the so-called (A.Q.C), who is one of the most important leaders. On which the militia relies in the manufacture of ballistic missiles and drones, based on Rule 16 of customary international humanitarian law.
Accordingly; On (01/17/2022 AD), the coalition forces carried out an air mission on a legitimate military target, which is (the presence of leaders of the armed Houthi militia inside two buildings) in the (Al-Thawra) district of (Sana’a), using two guided bombs that hit their targets.
The Coalition Forces took all possible precautions to avoid incidental losses or damage to civilians and civilian objects, or to reduce them in any case to a minimum, through the following:
1. The area should be free of civilians.
2. Using two guided bombs, commensurate with the size of the military target.
3. Taking into account the presence of buildings adjacent to the site, as well as the presence of a mosque and a college of medical sciences, approximately 480 meters away from the site of the military target, which is included in the list of sites prohibited from being targeted by the coalition forces (NSL) according to Article (57) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions. And rules (15) and (17) of customary international humanitarian law.
The specialists of the joint team studied (satellite images) of the location of the military target, after the date mentioned in the claim, and the following was found:
1. The site is two two-storey demonstrating buildings.
2. Traces of air strikes on the two targeted buildings.
3. Limited damage to buildings adjacent to the military target.
4. The wall separating the military target from the neighboring buildings was damaged.
By examining the post-mission report, the joint team found that the two bombs hit the target and were accurate and direct.
By examining the video recordings of the implemented task, the joint team found the following:
1. The area around the building shall be clear of any civilian movements before and during the targeting.
2. The two bombs hit their targets, and it was an accurate and direct hit.
By examining what was stated in the claim and the open sources, the joint team found the following:
1. The published video and photo shows traces of air strikes on two buildings.
2. One of the two buildings is owned by the Houthi leader (A.Q.C).
3. It was mentioned in many open sources that the Houthi leader (A.Q.G.) was killed in an air strike by the coalition during a meeting of the leaders of the armed Houthi militia north of the capital (Sana’a), and he is considered one of the leaders of the first line in the armed Houthi militia.
4. The so-called (F.R) is a military commander in the legitimate forces, and he was arrested by the armed Houthi militia in March 2015 AD, and his house in (the Libyan neighborhood) was seized, and it is the same house that was targeted.
In view of this; The Joint Incident Assessment Team concluded the following:
1. The correctness of the actions taken by the coalition forces in dealing with the legitimate military target (prominent leaders of the Houthi armed militia) located at a specific location at the (Al-Thawra) directorate in the city (Sana’a), and that they are consistent with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
2. The occasion for the Coalition countries to provide assistance for collateral damage to buildings adjacent to the military target.
With regard to what was reported by the National Committee to Investigate Allegations of Human Rights Violations in Yemen, that at (10:00) in the evening on (18/07/2015 AD) the coalition warplanes targeted the house of the victim (W.M.J) located in the area of (Al-Luhom) near the (Al-Luhom) primary school, which led to the death and injury of a number of people, and the complete destruction of the house (coordinates are attached).
Counselor Al-Mansour explained that the Joint Incidents Assessment Team conducted research and fact-finding about the incident, and after reviewing all documents, including the air missions order, the daily task inventory schedule, mission implementation procedures, post-mission reports, and the field visit report for the members of the Joint Incidents Assessment Team. To the Republic of Yemen, satellite images, open sources, rules of engagement for coalition forces, principles and provisions of international humanitarian law and its customary rules, and after evaluating the evidence; The joint team found that the coordinate mentioned in the claim is located within a residential area in the (Al-Loum) neighborhood in the (Dar Saad) district in the northern part of (Aden) governorate.
By examining the air missions carried out by the coalition forces on (07/18/2015 AD), which is the date mentioned in the claim, the joint team found that the coalition forces did not carry out any air missions in (Dar Saad) district in (Aden) governorate, and that the closest air mission they carried out The coalition forces were at (5:25) in the morning on a military target outside the (Dar Saad) district.
By examining the air missions carried out by the coalition forces for the day before and the day after the date mentioned in the claim, the joint team found the following:
1. On (07/17/2015 AD), one day before the date of the claim, the Coalition Forces carried out an air mission on a military target in an area devoid of civilian objects, at a distance of (1700) meters from the claim site.
2. On (19/07/2015 AD), one day after the date mentioned in the claim, the coalition forces carried out an air mission on a military target in an area devoid of civilian objects, at a distance of (3200) meters from the claim site.
The specialists of the joint team also studied (satellite images) of the (house) site of the claim, and it was found that there were damages to the (house).
Through the field visit of the members of the Joint Incidents Assessment Team to the claim site, it was not found that there were traces of air targeting at the alleged site.
By reviewing what was reported in the open sources about the claim site, the joint team found that the (Dar Saad) district was heavily bombed by the armed Houthi militia and the Republican Guard of the former president’s forces during that period to maintain their control over Aden governorate.
By comparing what was stated in the claim with the task carried out on the date of the claim, the joint team found the following:
1. The location mentioned in the claim is not compatible with the location of the air mission carried out by the coalition forces, as the coalition forces did not carry out any air missions in the (Dar Saad) district on the date of the claim.
2. The timing of the air mission differed from the time stated in the claim, as the mission was carried out at (5:25) in the morning, while it was stated in the claim that the targeting took place at (10:00) in the evening.
In light of this; The Joint Incidents Assessment Team concluded that the coalition forces did not target the house of (W.M.J.) in the (Dar Saad) district of (Aden) governorate on (07/18/2015 AD) as stated in the claim.
