(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
RIYADH, 5th March 2018 (WAM) - Legal Counselor Mansour bin Ahmed Al-Mansour, spokesman of the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) in Yemen held a press conference at Army Officers Club in Riyadh today.
According to Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Al-Mansour refuted claims on 14 incidents raised by some international organizations against military operations carried out by the Coalition Forces in Yemen.
Following is Al-Mansour's review of the results of investigations into the relevant incidents: Regarding the reports issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); and Amnesty International and; the statement issued by the Joint Coalition Forces, concerning the attack on a residential area in (Faj Atan) at 1:30 am on (24 August 2017), two air strikes hit a residential complex, Killing (33) persons and injuring (12) others.
Based on its findings, the JIAT concluded that the incident was unintentional, due to a technical fault. JIAT therefore concludes the Coalition States to consider providing assistance to the families of the victims, and material damage.
Regarding the report issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which Included that at 1:00 pm on 21 July 2017, a vehicle carrying a family was bombed near (Al-Hamli Bridge), (10 kilometers) north of (Khaled Bin Al Waleed Military Camp) At (Mozaa) directorate, (Taiz) province, the attack killed a woman and wounded (5) people.
JIAT verified the incident, and after reviewing all the documents, including the procedures; the rules of engagement, the schedule of daily air missions, the satellite images and video recordings of missions delivered, and after assessing gathered evidence. JIAT found that Coalition Air Force supported the legitimate forces by carrying out four air missions using bombs directed at legitimate military targets that posed immediate danger to the legitimate forces. The nearest was (2000 meters) away from (Al-Hamli Bridge), and (4) hours off claimed time.
In light of this, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not bomb a vehicle in (Taiz) province. JIAT also verified that the procedures of Coalition Forces' were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the report issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which included the bombing of a house in the village of (Mahdah) in (Al-safra) area (Saada) province, during the night of (04/08/2017), killing 9 persons, including three women six children; and wounded 3 others. JIAT found that the coalition forces did not target the village of (Mahdah) in (Saada) province on the claimed date.
Regarding the report issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which included that at around 10:00 am on (17 June 2017), the Coalition Air Force bombed a building called (Beit al-Sufi) in the town of (Al-Mashnaq), (Shatha) district, in (Saada) province. The building, which was used as a (qat market), was hit by a direct air strike. The building located (500 meters) away from the main market. The attack killed 26 persons and wounded one.
JIAT verified that the procedures of Coalition Forces' were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights dated (04/08/2016), included that "(On 8 August 2015), the (Malaria Centre) in (Hays) Directorate, was targeted by airstrikes. According to witnesses, including officials from the Ministry of Health, three airstrikes targeted the area in which the medical facility was located."
JIAT found that the building has never been reported as a medical facility. Therefore, was not among the no-target list. Reviewing of the missions video recordings proved that the claimed building had no sign (recognized emblem) of a medical facility.
In light of this, JIAT verified that the procedures of Coalition Forces were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the report issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which included that the Coalition Forces directly targeted (Hajif Sub-Station) of power in the Directorate of (Al-Ma'ala), (Aden) Governorate on (12/04/2015), resulting in the near-total destruction of its warehouses located in the same complex, and that the Coalition Forces carried out air strikes the next day.
JIAT concludes that the Coalition Forces did not target (Hajif Sub-station) in (Aden), and that the procedures of Coalition Forces in dealing with military objectives were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the report issued by Amnesty International issued on (18 August 2015), which included that the coalition forces bombed a house in the village of (Dar Saber) on the outskirts of the city of (Taiz) at (5:00) am on (26 May 2015), killing (8) people and injuring others, Including two children. The house is located (150) meters away from the (Zayed Park) in (Jabal Saber). It also destroyed part of another three-storey building.
In the light of this, JIAT found that the targeting of (Zayed Park) is consistent with international humanitarian law and its customary rule, and that the incident was unintentional, due to a technical fault. JIAT therefore concludes the Coalition States to consider providing assistance to the families of the victims.
Regarding the report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on (07/09/2015), which included that on (21 April 2015), (40) civilians were killed and (70) civilians were injured as a result of air strikes targeting the (Al-Daleel Bridge) in (Ibb) governorate. It was reported that two air strikes hit the bridge and the road leading to (Sana'a) governorate, causing a large number of civilian casualties. People began to come to help the injured in the first explosion when the second strike was launched.
JIAT concludes that the bridge was clear from civilians at the time of the bombing, and that the procedures of Coalition Forces in dealing with military objectives were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the report issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross issued on (06/08/2015) which included that the coalition air force carried out an air raid on (Al-Qasimi) neighborhood in (Old Sana'a) at (02:45) am, on (12/06/2015), targeting a complex of buildings and resulted Killing 5 civilians and destroying 6 residential buildings.
JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not excute any air missions in the vicinity of (old Sana'a), and had not bombed in (Al-Qasimi) neighborhood of (Old Sana'a).
Regarding the report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on (04/08/2016), which included that on (20/8/2015) the Coalition forces targeted houses between (5 to 120 meters) away from the former president's palace in (Taiz), killing (53) civilians.
In light of this, JIAT concludes that the Coalition Forces did not bombed the homes mentioned in the annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and that the procedures of Coalition Forces in dealing with military objectives were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on (04/08/2016), that on the early day of (18 December 2015), (18) civilians were killed and 6 injured by (2) air strikes targeting a house in (Wadi Qena) In light of this, JIAT verified that the procedures of Coalition Forces were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued on (04/08/2016) that the coalition forces carried out an air strike on (Amran Cement Factory) in the city of (Amran) on (03/02/2016), killing (14) civilians and injuring (53) others. The factory was severely damaged, (11) houses and adjacent shops were damaged, two trucks and nine vehicles, including an ambulance, were burnt. The factory was also attaked on (12/7/2015), and on (18/02/2015).
In light of this, JIAT concludes that the procedures of Coalition Forces were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the statement of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen issued on (16/02/2017), the Coalition Forces bombed a funeral gathering in the village of (Sharaa), killing (6) women and a girl and injuring (15) others.
In light of this, JIAT concludes that the procedures of Coalition Forces were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
Regarding the letter of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Yemen Coordinator dated (21 November 2016), which included that the Coalition forces targeted a civilian house in the village of (Tbeisha), (Taiz) governorate, at (7:00) am, killing (10) Civilians of the house occupants, including children and women.
In light of this, JIAT concludes that the procedures of Coalition Forces were correct, and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules.
WAM/Hassan Bashir
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