JIAT issues statement refuting allegations on Coalition Air Force wrong use of power in Sa'dah
Saudi Press Agency
Wednesday 1440/4/5 - 2018/12/12
Riyadh, December 11, 2018, SPA -- Official spokesman of the Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) Legal Counselor Mansour Al-Turki defended the performance of the Coalition to restore legitimacy to Yemen, citing its verification of the occurrence of the alleged incident, the claimant, linking it with military operations in Yemen, the principles on which the international law was based and their conformity with Geneva conventions..
In a press conference at Riyadh-based Saudi army officers club, Al-Turk said four allegations were submitted by international agencies on alleged mistakes committed by the coalition forces to restore legitimacy in Yemen during military operations inside Yemen, confirming the correctness of the coalition forces measures followed, according to engagement bases .
He cited the case No. 108, in which Amnesty International stated on its (October 2015) report that: "Some victims were killed as they were trying to flee to safety. A witness told Amnesty International that six members of his family were killed when the car they were travelling in was struck by coalition forces around 4 June in the middle of the day.
The car was by the petrol station near the political security building on the Gharaz Road, next to the specialized hospital, when a first airstrike hit the station. A second airstrike subsequently hit the car, where (7) people were killed.
The witness told researchers that later that evening he heard on television that coalition forces announced the killing of a Houthi leader. He believed from the description that they were referring to his brother. However, he maintained that his brother was neither a leader nor a member of the Houthis." The report referenced the coordinates: 17°00'21.1"N 43°39'53.0"E.
The Joint Incidents Assessment Team has vetted the possibility of the incident, and following verification of all related documents; including procedures and Rules of Engagement, Daily Mission Schedule, After Mission Report, satellite imagery, evidence evaluation and a thorough study of the location of the allegation, identified by the claimant as coordinates: 17°00'21.1"N 43°39'53.0"E, JIAT identifies the location as a main road connecting (At Talh) and (Sa'dah) Cities, (12) kilometers North of (Sa'dah).
Following JIAT's review of executed missions on the date of the allegation, it was found that the closest mission carried out by Coalition forces on the day of the allegation (Thursday, June 4th 2015) was against a military target (radars and missile launchers) outside (Sa'dah) City, and (6) kilometers from the alleged location in a mountainous, building-free area. It was proven to JIAT, following a review of the After Action Review of the executing formation on the date of the allegation, that the bombs engaged the legitimate military target in a precise, direct hit. Satellite imagery of the alleged location on (December 23rd, 2015) showed no sign of airstrike damage to the location mentioned in the allegation.
As a result, JIAT finds that the Coalition Forces DID NOT target the outside of (Sa'dah) (gas station and vehicle) mentioned in the allegation. JIAT also confirms the validity of the Coalition Air Force procedures in targeting a (radar and missile launchers), and that they were carried out in accordance with the Customary International Humanitarian Law.
Regarding The Allegation That Coalition Forces Targeted A "Residential Complex of IDPs" In (Al Saleh) City, (Hodeida) Governorate: The "Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights" regarding Yemen, presented to the Human Rights Council on August 17th, 2018 stated that the Coalition Air Force carried out an airstrike on (April 3rd, 2018) against a "Residential Complex of IDPs" in (Al Saleh) City, (Hodeida) Governorate, which resulted in: "At least 12 civilians killed. Approximately 15 civilians injured."
The Joint Incidents Assessment Team has vetted the possibility of the incident, and following verification of all related documents; including the procedures and Rules of Engagement, Daily Mission Schedule, After Mission Report, video recordings of the mission, satellite imagery and evidence evaluation, JIAT finds that the Coalition Forces DID NOT target a "Residential Complex of IDPs" in (Al Saleh) City, (Hodeida) Governorate. The closest mission carried out by the Coalition Air Force on the date of the allegation (April 3rd, 2018) was against a military target (3500) meters away from the location of the allegation, which consists of a warehouse used by the armed Houthi militia as a (weapons storage and RC exploding boats preparation zone) in (Hodeida) City. Thus, the location lost its legal protection of civilian objects due to "effective contribution to military action" as stated in Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, Article 52, paragraph 3. Becoming a "[military objective] wh
ose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage." As stated in paragraph 2 of the same Article. Meeting Customary Rule 16 of feasible verification, the Coalition Air Force carried out a mission at (11:00) pm, on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018, against a (weapons storage and RC exploding boats preparation zone), South of (Hodeida) City, using precision-guided munition. The Coalition Air Force took "all feasible precautions in the choice of means and methods of attack with a view of avoiding, and in any event, to minimizing, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects.", evidenced by the use of proportionate precision-guided munition to the target in accordance with the aforementioned Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, Article 57 and Customary Rules 15 and 17.
JIAT has studied and analyzed post satellite imagery of the location of the allegation on (June 24th, 2018) where the location was intact, and no signs of airstrike damage were found.
Following video analysis of the mission, JIAT finds that:
The bomb was dropped on the target (warehouse), where it made a precise, direct hit;
The area of the target was free of movements (vehicular and civilian) prior and during the operation.
As a result, JIAT finds that the Coalition Forces DID NOT target the (Residential Complex of IDPs) mentioned in the allegation. JIAT also confirms the validity of the Coalition Air Force procedures in targeting a (weapons storage and RC Exploding Boats preparation zone), and that they were carried out in accordance with the Customary International Humanitarian Law.
The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions stated that on June 26th, 2018 the Coalition Air Force conducted an airstrike against a (bus) in (Hodeida) Governorate killing (22) civilians, including women and children.
The Joint Incidents Assessment Team has vetted the possibility of the incident, and following verification of all related documents; including the procedures and Rules of Engagement, Daily Mission Schedule, After Mission Report, video recordings of the mission, satellite imagery and evidence evaluation, JIAT has sought to state the facts and reveal the entire truth, despite the lack of information presented by the claimant, thus achieving the principle of transparency, respecting all claimants, presenting the world public opinion with the truth, detailing the allegation, comparing it to factual information and covering all its aspects. According to the allegation, the Coalition Air Force targeted a (bus) in (Hodeida) Governorate on June 26th, 2018, and as open sources indicate, the alleged incident occurred on the road connecting (Zabid) and (Al Jarrahi) cities. JIAT has found, through reviewing executed air missions, that on the date of the allegation the Coalition Air Force DID NOT conduct any missions on the road connecting (Zabid) and (Al Jarrahi) cities, and the closest engaged target was (7) kilometers away from the aforementioned road. On Tuesday, June 26th, 2018 at (9:18) am, upon monitoring of the Tactical Air Controller through an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that located a Light Utility Vehicle (LUV), which was armed, North of (Zabid) City, Hodeida. Thus, the (LUV) lost its legal protection of civilian objects due to "effective contribution to military action" as stated in Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, Article 52, paragraph 3. Becoming a "[military objective] whose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage." As stated in paragraph 2 of the same Article. Meeting Customary Rule 16 of feasible verification, the Coalition Air Force carried out a strike against the (LUV) using precision-guided munition. The Coalition Air Force took "all feasible precautions in the choice of means and methods of attack with a view of avoiding, and in any event, to minimizing, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects.", evidenced by the use of proportionate precision-guided munition to the target in accordance with the aforementioned Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, Article 57 and Customary Rules 15 and 17.
JIAT found that the location and type of the target were not compatible, as the Coalition Air Force targeted an (armed Houthi LUV), whereas the claimant alleges targeting of a (bus) in (Hodeida). Following review of the video recording of the executed mission, JIAT confirms that the target was an (armed LUV) and not a (bus), that was targeted on a paved road, which was free of movements (vehicular and civilian) prior and during the operation. No collateral damage sustained as the precision-guided munition made a precise, direct hit.
As a result, JIAT finds that the Coalition Forces DID NOT target the (bus) mentioned in the allegation. JIAT also confirms the validity of the Coalition Air Force procedures in targeting an (armed LUV) North of (Zabid), and that they were carried out in accordance with the Customary International Humanitarian Law.
--More
21:26 LOCAL TIME 18:26 GMT
0025
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
