Latest news with #JIAT
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
JIAT clears coalition of alleged rights violations in Yemen
RIYADH: The Joint Incidents Assessment Team on Wednesday issued a statement in response to allegations of human rights violations in Yemen over the targeting of Sarwah Rural Hospital in Harib directorate, Marib governorate on April 24, 2015. After examining various documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules, mission execution procedures, after-mission reports and satellite images, the JIAT concluded that the hospital is located in Sarwah village and included on the coalition forces' no-strike list. Specialists studied satellite images of the hospital and found no trace of damage to its structures caused by aerial targeting. Analyzing coalition air missions on April 24, 2015, the JIAT found no evidence of operations in Sarwah village. Similarly, missions on April 23 and April 25 showed no activity in the area. In a press conference in Riyadh, JIAT spokesman Mansour Al-Mansour addressed an allegation that coalition forces targeted a mosque in Al-Sawad in Yemen's Amran governorate on Sept. 23, 2019. After reviewing air missions, the JIAT found that no coalition operations were carried out in Amran on that date. By studying missions conducted the day before, the JIAT reported that intelligence indicated Houthi militia fighters were gathering at mobilization sites in Harf Sufyan in Amran in preparation for a major attack. Coalition forces identified four locations and carried out an air mission on what was considered a legitimate military target and in line with international humanitarian law. 'The coalition forces have taken all possible precautions to avoid accidental loss or damage to civilians and civilian objects, or in any case, to minimize it to the lowest possible level, during the planning and execution of the military operation,' Al-Mansour said. The precautions included the use of 'guided bombs proportionate to the size of the military targets and ensuring that there were no civilians present before or during the targeting,' he said. The JIAT concluded that the strike was lawful. It noted that while the targeted structure was claimed to be a mosque, no indications such as a minaret were found. It also addressed an allegation that a coalition airstrike hit a pickup truck in Al-Jarr village, Hajjah governorate, followed by a second strike 10 minutes later that destroyed a house on June 16, 2019. After reviewing air mission data, satellite images and visiting operational centers, the JIAT found no evidence of coalition activity on that date, nor on the days before or after. Satellite imagery also showed no signs of aerial targeting. The JIAT concluded that coalition forces did not target Al-Jarr village, as claimed. It also addressed an allegation that coalition forces targeted houses in Al-Hijrah village, Markhah Al-Sofla directorate in Shabwah on Jan. 4, 2019. After reviewing air tasking orders, mission schedules, post-mission reports and satellite images, it found that no coalition air missions were conducted in Shabwah. The JIAT also confirmed that no air missions were carried out in the governorate on Jan. 3 or Jan. 5, 2019, and concluded that coalition forces did not target houses in Al-Hijrah village as claimed.
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Joint Incident Assessment Team Refutes Four Claims Against Coalition Operations in Yemen
The Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) in Yemen has refuted four allegations leveled against the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, related to incidents in the provinces of Sanaa, Saada, and Abyan. The findings were presented during a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, attended by international media and diplomatic representatives. The team provided satellite imagery, coordinates, and on-site analysis to support its conclusions. One of the claims addressed was from the Yemeni Human Rights Commission, alleging that Coalition airstrikes targeted the Abyan governorate building in Zinjibar on June 4, 2015. JIAT said field investigations revealed damage consistent with ground fighting, not airstrikes. A review of Coalition air mission records on the date and surrounding days confirmed no operations in the Abyan area, while satellite imagery showed no signs of aerial targeting. Another claim, issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on January 18, 2022, accused the Coalition of partially damaging an emergency ward at a hospital in the Al-Sawad area of Sanhan district, Sanaa, during a January 13 airstrike. JIAT found the area hosts the Al-Sawad military camp and the nearby 'Model 48 Hospital,' a site listed on the Coalition's no-strike list. Intelligence indicated that the camp housed Houthi weapons and drone facilities. A precision strike was carried out at 1:20 a.m. using guided munitions to minimize collateral damage. Satellite imagery confirmed the strike hit its intended target, with the nearest impact point located 210 meters from the hospital—well outside the blast radius. Regarding a report of a missile allegedly fired from the border near a home in the village of Al-Malahidh, Haydan district, Saada province on February 23, 2020, JIAT confirmed no Coalition artillery or rocket activity occurred in the area. No evidence or impact data supported the claim. A final allegation stated that an airstrike hit a farm in Al-Watada, Khawlan district, Sanaa, at 1:00 p.m. on March 3, 2021. JIAT said the claim lacked specific coordinates, and a review of operational records showed no air missions in the area during that time frame. In all four cases, JIAT concluded there was no evidence to support the claims of unlawful Coalition actions.
Arab News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Investigation debunks claims about coalition strikes in Yemen
RIYADH: An investigation found that a number of airstrikes carried out by The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen did not target civilian sites including a hospital and farm as claimed. The coalition's Joint Incidents Assessment Team held a meeting on Wednesday to address allegations regarding airstrikes in various regions of Yemen in recent years. On Jan. 13, 2022, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that an airstrike partially damaged the emergency department and inpatient clinics of a hospital in the Al-Sawad area. It was claimed that coalition forces targeted a military camp near the hospital. The JIAT reviewed relevant documentation and found that a military camp, known as Al-Sawad camp, was located near the 48 Model Hospital, which is on the coalition forces' no strike list. On the day of the alleged strike, coalition forces conducted a targeted airstrike on military targets within the camp, based on intelligence regarding Houthi militia activities. The bombs were guided and aimed to minimize civilian impact, hitting their intended targets accurately and remaining a safe distance from the hospital. Therefore, the JIAT concluded that coalition forces did not target the hospital on Jan. 13, 2022. On March 3, 2021, reports emerged alleging that coalition forces conducted an airstrike targeting a farm in the Al-Watadah area of the Khawlan Directorate in Sanaa Governorate. The JIAT said it reviewed documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules and satellite imagery. The investigation revealed that no specific coordinates for the alleged farm were provided. The JIAT found no record of airstrikes in Al-Watadah on the date in question, nor in the days surrounding it. Open-source searches yielded no corroborating information. In conclusion, the JIAT determined that coalition forces did not target a farm in Al-Watadah on March 3, 2021, as alleged. Other reports indicated that a missile fell near a house in Al-Malaheet village on Feb. 23, 2020. The JIAT investigated and found no evidence that coalition forces had conducted missile strikes in the area on that date. On June 4, 2015, allegations surfaced regarding an airstrike on the governorate building in Zinjibar. The JIAT confirmed that no air missions were conducted in Abyan on that date. Through these investigations, the JIAT aims to clarify allegations and uphold accountability and transparency.
