JIAT Issues Statement Regarding Allegation that Coalition Forces Targeted Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a Villages in Maidi Directorate on 27/09/2015, Tractor in Yasnam Area in Baqim Directorate on 02/01/2018

A statement is issued by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) regarding the allegation that the Coalition Forces targeted Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages in Maidi Directorate of Hajjah Governorate on 27/09/2015 as follows:
 "With regard to what was stated in the report of the panel of experts on Yemen, issued on 26/01/2016, which includes that on 27/09/2015, airstrikes targeted Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages, near the borders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. No coordinates of the claimed location were provided.
 JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, mission execution procedures, after mission reports, JIAT members visit to the operation centers and related field units, satellite images, Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages are located in the north eastern part of Maidi Directorate in Hajjah Governorate.
 By studying the air missions carried out by the Coalition Forces on 27/09/2015, which is the date of the claim, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions on Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages.
 By studying the daily mission schedule carried out by the Coalition Forces one day prior and one day after the claimed date, JIAT found the following:
 1.On 26/09/2015 the day prior to the claimed date, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions on Maidi directorate.
 2.On 28/09/2015 the day after the claimed date, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions on Maidi directorate.
 In light of that, JIAT found that Coalition Forces did not target Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages in Maidi directorate of Hajjah governorate, on 27/09/2015, as claimed."
Moreover, a statement is issued by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) regarding the allegation that the Coalition Forces targeted a Tractor in Yasnam area of Baqim Directorate in Sa'ada Governorate on 02/01/2018 as follows:
 "With regard to what was stated in the letter of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, that on 02/01/2018 Coalition Forces targeted a Tractor in Yasnam area of Baqim Directorate in Sa'ada Governorate, causing the death of its driver.
 JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, mission execution procedures, after mission reports, satellite images, Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that the claimed location is called Yasnam sub-district, and is located in Baqim Directorate in the north western part of Sa'ada Governorate. No coordinates of the claimed location were provided.
 By studying the air missions carried out by the Coalition Forces on 02/01/2018, which is the date of the claim, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces observed a vehicle used by fighter elements of Al-Houthi armed militia to advance to the battle fronts in the area of operations in front of the international boarders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which during that period witnessed Al-Houthi armed militia mobilizing fighters in front of the international borders of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and engaging in direct and indirect fire on the front units of the Coalition Forces, which is considered to be a legitimate military target, that achieves a concrete direct and certain military advantage, as the legal protection of the civilian objects lost, based on Article (52) of the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva Conventions and rule (8) of customary international humanitarian Law.
 The degrees of verification were available through continuous monitoring operations, which confirmed that the vehicle was used by fighter elements of Al-Houthi armed militia to advance to the bottle fronts, and is contributing to military actions and supporting the war effort, based on rule (16) of customary international humanitarian law.
 Accordingly, the Coalition Forces at 6:42 am on 02/01/2018 carried out an air mission on a legitimate military a vehicle used by fighter elements of Al-Houthi armed militia to advance to the battle fronts in Baqim Directorate of Sa'ada Governorate, using one guided bomb that hit its target.
 The Coalition Forces have taken the possible precautions to avoid accidental loss or damage to civilian and civilian objects, or in any case, minimize it to the lowest possible, during the planning and execution of the military operation through the following:
 Using one guided bomb, which commensurate with the size of the target.
 Ensuring that there were no civilians before and during the targeting.
 Based on article (57) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, and rules (15) and (17) of customary international humanitarian law.
 By studying the after mission report of the executed mission, JIAT found the following:
 The target was received from the forward air controller (FAC).
 The bomb hit the target directly.
 JIAT specialists studied the satellite images of the military target location and found the following:
 The target is located in a vacant land, and is free of civilian objects.
 No paved roads in the targeted location.
 No construction site were observed in the military target area.
 In light of that; JIAT found the following:
 The procedures taken by Coalition Forces, in dealing with the legitimate military target a vehicle used by fighter elements of Al-Houthi armed militia to advance to the battle fronts, in Baqim Directorate of Sa'ada Governorate on 02/01/2018, were correct and in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules.
 Coalition Forces did not target a Tractor working at a construction site in Yasnam area of Baqim Directorate in Sa'ada Governorate on 02/01/2018, as claimed."