In a series of statements, the Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) has released findings related to allegations of several incidents in Yemen, shedding light on the complexities of conflict in the region.
Investigation into Hospital Targeting Claim
The team addressed claims regarding the coalition forces’ alleged targeting of Baqim Rural Hospital in the Saada Governorate on October 1, 2016. According to a report by Physicians for Human Rights published in March 2020, coalition aircraft reportedly targeted the hospital for the second time, causing additional damage to the facility. The JIAT meticulously reviewed all available documents, including air mission orders, daily mission logs, post-mission reports, satellite images, and the Yemeni National Information Center’s database of health facilities, alongside the coalition’s no-strike list (NSL) and rules of engagement. Their assessment revealed that Baqim Rural Hospital is indeed located in a no-strike zone. However, the team could not determine the cause of the reported damage to an annex building within the hospital compound.
Further scrutiny of air missions conducted around the date of the alleged incident showed that coalition forces had not executed any air operations over Baqim, neither on the day before nor after the claim, leading the JIAT to conclude that the coalition forces did not target Baqim Rural Hospital as alleged.
Residential Area Bombing Allegation
Another claim investigated by the JIAT involved the alleged targeting of homes in the Al Hamra village, Tuban District, Lahij Governorate, on August 1, 2015. Field visits by the team, alongside a comprehensive review of mission documents and satellite imagery, revealed damages to residential buildings in Al Hamra. However, the team could not ascertain the origins of these damages due to new constructions and the degradation of potential evidence over time.
An examination of coalition air missions on the dates surrounding the alleged incident confirmed that no air strikes were conducted over Al Hamra, leading the team to determine that coalition forces had not targeted residential homes in the village as claimed.
Water Point Mortar Attack Allegation
The team also reviewed allegations of a mortar attack by coalition forces on a water point in Al Theraya village, Shada District, Saada Governorate, on May 26, 2020. The incident reportedly resulted in injury to a girl and destruction of the water unit. After reviewing coalition surface unit firing logs, satellite imagery, and the rules of engagement, the JIAT found that coalition forces had not conducted any fire support missions in Al Theraya on the date in question.
The comprehensive investigations by the JIAT into these allegations highlight the challenges of assessing wartime incidents and underscore the importance of rigorous fact-finding efforts to ascertain the truth. The findings aim to clarify the events in question and contribute to a better understanding of the operational context in Yemen.
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