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. --More 21:14 LOCAL TIME 18:14 GMT 0023 www.spa.gov.sa/1852729
