RIYADH – Counselor Mansour Al-Mansour, the official spokesman of the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) in Yemen, reviewed the results of incidents assessments coming in five allegations by international bodies, organizations and media on alleged errors committed by the Coalition Forces for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen and confirmed the correctness of the measures carried out by the Coalition Forces.

He said the measures carried out strictly observed the bases of military engagement and humanitarian international law and its customary rules.

Al-Mansour confirmed this at the press conference held at King Salman Air Base during which he refuted the said allegations as follows:

• In relation to the (Qat market) in Saadah Governorate and regarding the annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on (Aug. 4, 2016), which stated that an attack occurred on (Sept. 19, 2015) by the Coalition Air Forces on (Al-Qat market), with (3) airstrikes killing (25) people and injuring (16) others.

JIAT verified the incident, examined all the related documents, including the procedures; rules of engagement, the daily mission schedule, the after mission reports, the satellite images of the target location; and assessed all gathered evidence.

JIAT found that on (Sept. 19, 2015) the Coalition executed (2) air missions on (2) legitimate military targets, which achieved a military advantage, in (Saadah) Governorate, the closest location was a cave used by Houthi Militias as weapons storage, located at (100) km away from (Al-Qat market),

In light of this, JIAT found that the Coalition Air Forces did not attack (Al-Qat market), and confirms the procedures of the Coalition in attacking the (legitimate military target) were carried out in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its Customary Rules.

• In relation to (Al-Hosaini Mosque) in Aden City, and regarding the annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on (Aug. 4, 2016) which stated that the Coalition Forces carried out an attack on (Al-Hosaini Mosque) on (July 14, 2015), in (Aden) city, which caused complete destruction of the mosque, and according to locals, the mosque was used for military purposes by the Houthi Militias.

JIAT verified the incident, examined all related documents, including the procedures; rules of engagement, the daily mission schedule, the after mission reports, the satellite images of the target location; and assessed all gathered evidence.

JIAT found that at (7:30 a.m.) on Tuesday (July 14, 2015), the Coalition Air Forces executed a mission on a target (building) where there were gatherings of Houthi armed militants, in the city of (Aden) that represent a legitimate military target and attacking it achieved a military advantage, the target was (4) km away from the claimed location (Al-Hosaini Mosque).

JIAT examined the satellite images of (July 15, 2015), which showed that the location of the claim (Al-Hosaini Mosque) in the city of (Aden) has no signs of any damage.

In light of this, JIAT found that the Coalition Air Forces did not attack (Al-Hosaini Mosque), and confirms that the procedures of the Coalition Forces targeting the legitimate military target were carried out in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its Customary Rules.

• In relation to (Bab Aden Water Reservoir), and regarding the report issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross on (Aug. 6, 2015), which stated that the Coalition Forces carried out an airstrike on (Bab Aden Water Reservoir) between (9-11 p.m.) on (July 8, 2015), which is located on a mountain between (Mu'alla) and (Crater) districts.

JIAT verified the incident, examined all related documents, including the procedures; rules of engagement, the daily mission schedule, the after mission reports, the satellite images of the target location; and assessed all gathered evidence.

JIAT found that at (2:30 p.m.) on (July 8, 2015), which is (7) hours prior to the time of the claim, the Coalition Forces executed a mission on (3) legitimate military targets in the city of (Aden). The closest target to (Bab Aden Water Reservoir) was approximately (5,500) meters.

In light of this, JIAT found that the Coalition Air Forces did not target (Bab Aden Water Reservoir), and confirms that the procedures of the Coalition Forces in targeting the legitimate military target were carried out in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its Customary Rules.

• In relation to (Chamber of Commerce Building) in Sana'a city, and regarding the report by Human Rights Watch issued on (July 11, 2016), which stated that at (1:00 a.m.) on (Jan. 5, 2016) the Coalition Air Forces dropped a bomb on the (Chamber of Commerce Building) in (Al- Hasaba) district, Sana'a city, injuring a security guard, and destroying the eastern side of the three-floor building.

JIAT verified the incident, examined all related documents, including the procedures; rules of engagement, the daily mission schedule, the after mission reports, the satellite images of the target location; and assessed all gathered evidence.

JIAT found that the Coalition Forces received intelligence reports that the Houthi Armed Militias seized the (Chamber of Commerce) building in Sana'a, and used it as a military barracks and headquarters. Therefore, the Coalition Air Forces targeted the (Chamber of Commerce Building) in Sana'a at (1:10 a.m.) on (Jan. 5, 2016), that lost its legal protection prescribed by International Conventions for the military use by the Houthi armed militias, as a legitimate military target, and attacking it achieves a military advantage.

In light of this, JIAT found that the procedures of the Coalition Forces in targeting the legitimate military target (Chamber of Commerce Building) were carried out in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its Customary Rules.

• In relation to the (Health Center) in Qahza district in the city of Saadah, and regarding news broadcasted in the Yemeni Media that the Coalition Forces executed an airstrike on a Health Center for cholera patients at (4:30 p.m.) on Saturday (June 3, 2017), which was crowded with cholera patients and their companions in (Qahza) district, (Saadah) city, the airstrike caused dozens of injuries, destroyed the building and the medical facilities of the center, and placed it out of service.

JIAT verified the incident, examined all related documents, including the procedures; rules of engagement, the daily mission schedule, the after mission reports, the satellite images of the target location; and assessed all gathered evidence.

JIAT found that on Saturday (June 3, 2017) the Coalition Air Forces executed (3) air missions on military targets used by Houthi Militias as missile storages in (Saadah), that represent legitimate military targets, located (3) km away from the claimed location, and were direct hits.

JIAT viewed the satellite images on a later date of the claim, which showed that (the health center of Qahzah) was not hit by any airstrikes.

In light of this, JIAT found that the Coalition Air Forces did not target (The Health Center) in (Qahzah) district, Sa'dah city, and confirms that the procedures of the coalition targeting the (Missile storages) were in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its Customary Rules. — SPA