Official Spokesman of the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) in Yemen Legal Counsellor Mansour Al-Mansour refuted a number of claims raised by global bodies and international organizations on errors allegedly committed by the Coalition Forces to Support Legitimacy in Yemen during their military operations in Yemen. In a press conference held at the Armed Forces Officers Club in Riyadh today, Al-Mansour reviewed the results of assessing four incidents included in those claims as follows: With regard to the report (UN Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen) issued (July 13, 2020) that Coalition Forces carried out an air strike in (Al-Washha) directorate of (Hajjah) governorate on (12/07/2020), killing seven children and two women, and injuring two children and two women who were rescued to (Abs) hospital. The JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including daily mission schedule, air tasking orders, after mission report, interviewing and listening to those concerned, surveillance and reconnaissance system video recordings, satellite images of the targeted site, operational reports, intelligence reports, summary of electronic warfare activity of wireless communications, Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that Coalition Forces received intelligence reports about a building with (2) communications masts on top of it, and AlHouthi armed militia are using that building as (command and communications center) to direct combat operations. By examining operational and intelligence reports, electronic monitoring operations, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, JIAT found the following: - Movements of elements of Al-Houthi armed militia, were observed in various locations (Washha) area. - Presence of elements of Al-Houthi armed militia, were observed inside (the building used as a command and communications center). - Warning and motivational communications against Coalition Forces, were observed through electronic monitoring. - Radar transmission of anti-aircraft missiles (Sam 6) were observed in the area. Which is considered to be a legitimate military target that the targeting of it is a tangible, direct and certain military advantage, and that (the building used as a command and communications center) lost its legal protection for the use of it to contribute effectively to military actions, based on Article (52) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, and rule (8) of the customary International Humanitarian Law. The intelligence was verified by monitoring (the building used as a command and communications center) in (Washha) directorate of (Hajjah) governorate, by means of surveillance and reconnaissance system for 4 days, which confirmed the presence of elements and leaders of Al-Houthi armed militia on an ongoing basis, based on rule (16) of customary International Humanitarian Law. Coalition forces have taken possible precautions to avoid accidental loss or damage to civilian objects or to minimize them during the planning and execution of the military operation through the following: - Performing a reconnaissance mission over the target, to make sure there are no civilians around the target. - Use of a guided bomb and proportional to the size of the target. - Ensuring that civilians are not present before and during the targeting operation. Based on article 57 of The First Additional Protocol of the Geneva Conventions and rules (15) and (17) of customary international humanitarian law. --More 18:52 LOCAL TIME 15:52 GMT 0011 www.spa.gov.sa/2161522