A statement issued by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) regarding the allegation that the Coalition Forces targeted a (residential area) in (Rahbah) directorate of (Marib) governorate on (02/04/2021)
With regard to what JIAT received that at (07:00) pm on (02/04/2021) an airstrike hit a residential area in (Rahbah) directorate of (Marib) governorate, (no coordinates of the claimed residential area were provided).
JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, mission execution procedures, after mission reports, satellite images, open sources, Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that (Rahbah) directorate is located in the south western side of (Marib) governorate.
By studying the air missions carried out by the Coalition Forces on (02/04/2021), which is the date of the claim, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces carried out an air mission on a military target consist of (gathering of fighter elements of Al-Houthi armed militia and a vehicle belonging to them), at a specified coordinate on a vacant land, in (Rahbah) directorate of (Marib) governorate, (2400) meters away from the closest residential area, using two guided bombs that hit its targets.
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:
On (01/04/2021) the day prior to the claimed date, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions on (Rahbah) directorate.
On (03/04/2021) the day after the claimed date, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions on (Rahbah) directorate.
JIAT specialists studied the satellite images of the military target location, which is located in an area free of buildings, and found traces of the two bombs on the military target location.
By studying the after mission report, JIAT found the two bombs hit the military target.
By searching the open sources JIAT found no information about targeting a residential area in (Rahbah) directorate of (Marib) governorate on (02/04/2021).
By comparing what was stated in the claim with the air mission carried out on the date of the claim, JIAT found the following:
1. The description and nature of the claim a (residential area) does not correspond to the description and nature of the military target (gathering of fighter elements of Al-Houthi armed militia and a vehicle belonging to them) on a vacant land.
2. The timing of the air mission carried out at (1.00) pm does not coincide with the time of the claim at (7.00) pm.
In light of that; JIAT found that Coalition Forces did not target a (residential area), in (Rahbah) directorate of (Marib) governorate, on (02/04/2021), as claimed.
