Investigation Finds No Coalition Forces Role In Al-Tuhayta Residential Area Incident

In a recent statement, the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) addressed allegations concerning a military operation in the Al-Hudaydah governorate of Yemen. The claim involved a strike on a residential area in At-Tuhayta city on November 12, 2021, reportedly resulting in the death of a man and three children, with two additional men injured.

Upon receiving the allegations, JIAT initiated a comprehensive review of the incident. This review encompassed an examination of various documents and evidence including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules, mission execution procedures, after-mission reports, satellite imagery, Coalition Forces' rules of engagement, and the provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules.

One key finding from JIAT's investigation was a discrepancy in the location's name. The team clarified that there is no city named Al-Tuhayat as initially claimed. Instead, the correct name is Al-Tuhayta, situated within the same-named directorate of Al-Hudaydah governorate. Furthermore, the investigation highlighted that no specific coordinates for the alleged target location were provided in the claim.

JIAT's detailed analysis of air missions conducted by Coalition Forces around the date of the alleged strike revealed crucial insights. According to their findings, no air missions were carried out by Coalition Forces in the entirety of Al-Hudaydah governorate on November 12, 2021. This conclusion was supported by an examination of air missions scheduled one day before and one day after the claimed date. Specifically, on November 11 and November 13, 2021, no air missions targeted Al-Tuhayta city or any part of Al-Hudaydah governorate.

Based on these comprehensive assessments, JIAT concluded that Coalition Forces did not target a residential area in Al-Tuhayta city within Al-Tuhayta directorate of Al-Hudaydah governorate on November 12, 2021. This conclusion aims to clarify the events surrounding the allegations and provide transparency regarding military operations in the region.

With inputs from SPA