Joint Team Clears Coalition Forces Of Targeting Al-Hamra Village In 2015

The Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) issued a statement regarding allegations that Coalition Forces targeted houses in Al-Hamra village, Tuban directorate, Lahj governorate on 1 August 2015. The National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations to Human Rights in Yemen (NCIAVHR) forwarded this claim during its field visit to Yemen in March 2021.

JIAT reviewed all relevant documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules, mission execution procedures, after-mission reports, satellite images, and the field visit report. They also considered the Coalition Forces' rules of engagement and International Humanitarian Law principles. After assessing the evidence, JIAT found that Al-Hamra village is situated in the middle of Tuban directorate.

Satellite images of the claimed location revealed damage traces to some houses in a residential area in Al-Hamra village. However, JIAT could not determine the cause of this damage. A field visit by JIAT members also failed to identify the damage's origin due to new buildings constructed at the site and changes over time.

By examining air missions carried out by Coalition Forces on 1 August 2015, JIAT discovered no air missions were conducted on Al-Hamra village that day. Additionally, they reviewed missions one day before and after the claimed date. On 31 July 2015 and 2 August 2015, no air missions targeted Al-Hamra village.

Given these findings, JIAT concluded that Coalition Forces did not target houses in Al-Hamra village on 1 August 2015 as alleged. The investigation highlighted that no air missions were executed on or around the claimed date in the specified location.

Field Visit Challenges

The field visit conducted by JIAT members faced challenges due to new constructions at the claimed site and evidence fading over time. These factors hindered their ability to determine the exact cause of the reported damage.

In summary, after thorough vetting and analysis of all available evidence and documentation, JIAT found no basis for the allegation that Coalition Forces targeted houses in Al-Hamra village on 1 August 2015.

With inputs from SPA