Riyadh: With regard to what JIAT received that between end of August and beginning of September 2020, heavy fighting was reported in (Mahliyah) directorate, between the government of Yemen armed forces and Al-Houthi armed militia, Al-Houthi armed militia claimed that it took control of (Mahliyah) governorate on (10 September 2020), and on (13 September 2020) at around (7:50) pm, in (Al-Jazerah) village in (Mahliyah) directorate of (Mareb) governorate, planes started hovering over the village, around half an hour later, at around (8:20) pm, an airstrike hit a small fuel station, (coordinates of the claimed location were provided). The JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, mission execution procedures, after mission reports, video recording of the executed mission, surveillance and reconnaissance system video recordings, satellite images, meeting those in concern related to the executed military operation, testimony of the supported unit be longing to the legitimate government forces, Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that (Mahliyah) directorate is located in the southern part of (Mareb) governorate. JIAT also found that on (13/09/2020), during an ongoing clashes between the legitimate government forces and Al-Houthi armed militia in (Rahbah) front in (Mahliyah) directorate, the supported unit belonging to the legitimate government forces requested a close air support mission (CAS) to target a (vehicle) type (light truck), carrying fighters and weapons belonging to Al-Houthi armed militia used to support the battle fronts of Al-Houthi armed militia inside the operations military theater in (Rahbah) axis, the vehicle stopped at an abandoned, free of civilian gas station, and seized by Al-Houthi armed militia, therefore the legal protection lost, which is considered to be a legitimate military target, that achiev es a concrete direct and certain military advantage, 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 by the reconnaissance and surveillance system that observed a (vehicle carrying fighters and weapons belonging to Al-Houthi armed militia) during its movement inside the operations military theater, and tracked it until it stopped and hid under a canopy, and according to the supported unit belonging to the legitimate government forces the site where the vehicle stopped at an abandoned, free of civilian gas station, and seized by Al-Houthi armed militia, based on rule (16) of customary international humanitarian law. Accordingly, the Coalition Forces at (7:47) pm on (13/09/2020), carried out an air missions on a legitimate military target consist of a (vehicle carrying fighters and weapons belonging to Al-Houthi armed militia) inside the operation's military theater, hiding u nder a (canopy of an abandoned gas station) seized by Al-Houthi armed militia, 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: Reconnaissance and surveillance operations were carried out on the military target. Ensuring that there were no civilians before and during the targeting. Using one guided bomb which commensurate with the size of the military target. Based on article (57) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, and rules (15) and (17) of customary international humanitarian law. JIAT specialists studied the satellite images of the military target location, before and after the claimed date, and found the following: Before the date of the claim, there was a (canopy) and a small building, in an isolated area. After t he date of the claim, traces of aerial targeting were found on the military target. By studying the video recording of the surveillance and reconnaissance system, and video recordings executed mission, JIAT found the following: The military target a (vehicle) was observed and tracked until it stopped under a (canopy). The targeting was focused on the military target. No movements of personnel or civilian vehicles around the targeting site before and during the targeting. The bomb hit a (vehicle hiding under a canopy) directly. No secondary explosions were observed, which confirms that the gas station is abandoned. In light of that; JIAT found that the procedures taken by Coalition Forces, in dealing with the legitimate military target a (vehicle carrying fighters and weapons belonging to Al-Houthi armed militia), hiding under a canopy of an abandoned, free of civilian gas station, and seized by Al-Houthi armed militia, in (Mahliyah) directorate of (Mareb) governorate, on (13/09/2020), were corre ct and in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules. Source: Saudi Press Agency
Friday, April 24, 2026