A statement issued by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) regarding the allegation that Coalition Forces targeted (Athban Alasasiah School) in (Huraib) directorate of (Marib)

With regard to what was received by (JIAT), that on (03/09/2015) Coalition Forces targeted (Athban Alasasiah School) in (Huraib) directorate of (Marib) governorate, (attached the coordinates of location of the school), which resulted in its destruction.

JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, mission execution procedures, after mission reports, satellite images, field visit by members of JIAT to (Marib) governorate in Yemen, hearing witnesses testimonies about the incident, inspection of (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim, Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim is located in the north part of (Huraib) directorate, and in the south part of (Marib) governorate, about (60) kms away from (Marib) city, in a semi-isolated area, and no buildings adjacent to it.

By studying the air missions carried out by the Coalition Forces on (03/09/2015), which is the date of the claim, JIAT found that the Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions in in (Huraib) directorate of (Marib) governorate, and that the closest military target the Coalition Forces dealt with was (63) kms away from (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim.

By studying the air missions carried out by the Coalition Forces one day before and one day after the date of the claim, JIAT found the following:

1. On Wednesday (02/09/2015) the day before the claimed date, Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions in in (Huraib) directorate of (Marib) governorate, and that the closest military target the Coalition Forces dealt with was (52) kms away from (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim.

2. On Friday (04/09/2015) the day after the claimed date, Coalition Forces did not carry out any air missions in in (Huraib) directorate of (Marib) governorate, and that the closest military target the Coalition Forces dealt with was (10) kms away from (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim.

JIAT specialists studied the satellite images of the claimed site (Athban Alasasiah School), before and after the date of the claim, the following was found:

1.The satellite images before the date of the claim show that (Athban Alasasiah School) consists of (3) buildings inside a U- shaped wall, with a canopy covering part of the school yard.

2.The satellite images dated (31/12/2015), after the date of the claim show damages of the canopy covering part of the school yard.

Members of JIAT visited (Athban Alasasiah School) site in (Huraib) directorate, of (Marib) governorate of the claim, interviewed the witnesses, and prepared a report on what was seen, which includes the following:

1.Documentation of the damages to (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim, using photos and videos.

2.Meeting with the school principal, and the school guard at the claimed site.

JIAT specialists studied the field visit report to (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim, and the attached photos and videos, and compared them with the affects resulting from aerial bombs, the following was found:

1.The school yard covered by canopy was unpaved.

2.There is a small hole in the school yard, of a size that is not commensurate with the effects of the aerial bombs.

3.No signs of fire caused by air bombs on the interior walls and front facades of the school interior buildings.

4.Partial subsidence of the roof of the northern building, and no traces of air bombs penetrating the roof.

5.The size of the effects on the damaged part of the building is not commensurate with the size of the effects of an aerial bombing.

6.No damages or traces of fire to the canopy metal poles in the school yard.

7. The school principal stated that the targeting took place late at night, this timing does not correspond to the timing of the air mission, which was at (4:40) p.m., and was (42.5) km away from (Athban Alasasiah School) of the claim.

In light of that, JIAT found that Coalition Forces did not target (Athban Alasasiah School) in (Huraib) directorate of (Marib) governorate, on (03/09/2015) as claimed.

•This translation is a free service, bearing in mind that the original Arabic text is the official text.