Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) denied reports accusing the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen of targeting civilian and archaeological sites between 2015 and 2019, affirming the claims were unfounded after a thorough review of documents, air mission logs, and satellite imagery.
At a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour said the investigations covered four cases cited in international and local reports:
- Health Unit in Khamees Maran (Saada): A March 2020 report by Physicians for Human Rights claimed it was struck in April 2015. However, investigations confirmed the site was on the coalition’s no-strike list, and no airstrikes were recorded there.
- Water Truck (Al-Bayda): Alleged to have been hit in March 2019, but investigations showed the coalition conducted no air missions in Al-Bayda on or around that date.
- Fuel Station (Harib – Marib): Local reports claimed it was bombed in September 2015, but verification showed no coalition strikes occurred in the area at that time.
- Al-Muqah Archaeological Temple (Sirwah – Marib): Allegedly targeted in January 2016. The team confirmed the coalition carried out close air support against Houthi gatherings about 350 meters from the temple, using a precision-guided bomb that hit its target without damaging the archaeological site.
Al-Mansour explained that the investigations relied on military documents, post-mission reports, satellite imagery, video recordings, and field visits. He stressed that the coalition is committed to the rules of engagement and international humanitarian law, and that the purpose of these investigations is transparency and ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian sites.
