هام – الرياض : A statement issued by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) regarding the allegation that Coalition Forces targeted the (War Museum) in (Crater) directorate of (Aden) governorate on (15/07/2015) With regard to what was stated in the fourth report of the National Commission of Inquiry into allegations of human rights violations in Yemen for the period from (01 July 2017 to 31 January 2018), that the (War Museum) in (Crater) directorate was hit by rocket fire by the Arab Coalition Air Forces, at (11:45) a.m. on (15 July 2015) and the missile landed on the corner of the museum, the targeting was due to the presence of a small number of fighters belonging to Al-Houthi Armed Militia, and Saleh Forces at the entrance of the museum, there was no heavy weapons, but they were sniping against the public resistance and citizens in the area of (Crater), as the report concluded through the investigations conducted by the Committee and the testimonies of the witnesses, and the report of the investigator in charge, the main responsibility lies with the Al-Houthi Armed Militia and Saleh forces, where it was proved that they seized the archaeological object as a military compound and use it for the war effort. JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, mission execution procedures, after mission reports, video recordings of the executed mission, satellite images, Close Air Support (CAS) form, Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that the legitimate forces and the public resistance requested Close Air Support (CAS) on a military target (gatherings of fighter elements of Al-Houthi Armed Militia, and the forces of the former president inside a building) at a specific location in (Crater) directorate of (Aden) governorate. The degrees of verification of the military target, were available through the ground sources that confirmed the use of the (building) in (Crater) directorate of (Aden) governorate, by (fighter elements of Al-Houthi Armed Militia, and the forces of the former president) for the military actions, based on rule (16) of customary international humanitarian law. Which is considered to be a legitimate military target, that the targeting of it would achieve a concrete, direct and certain military advantage, as the legal protection of the civilian objects (building) lost for using it to contribute effectively to military actions, based on Article (52) of the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva Conventions and rule (8) of customary international humanitarian Law. Therefore, on (16/07/2015), Coalition Forces carried out an air mission on a legitimate military target (gatherings of fighter elements of Al-Houthi Armed Militia, and the forces of the former president inside a building), on specified location in (Crater) directorate of (Aden) governorate, using a single 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: 1. Using one guided bomb which commensurate with the size of the target. 2. Ensuring no civilian at the military target site before and during the targeting. based on article (57) of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, and rules (15) and (17) of customary international humanitarian law. By studying the satellite images of the military target site (War Museum) by JIAT specialists the following was found: 1. The (War Museum) of the claim is located in (crater) directorate, about (5) km south of (Aden) airport. 2. The (Museum) is a large building. 3. Traces of aerial targeting were observed on the northeast corner of the building, no other damage to the rest of the building. 4. Buildings adjacent to the (Museum) were not affected. By studying the video recordings of the task carried out, JIAT found the following: 1. The aim was on the military target (the north east corner of the building). 2. No civilians were observed before and during the targeting. 3. The bomb hit the specified aim point in the north east corner of the building. In light of that: JIAT found the procedures taken by Coalition Forces, in dealing with the legitimate military target (gatherings of fighter elements of Al-Houthi Armed Militia, and the forces of the former president inside a building) in (Crater) directorate of (Aden) governorate, were correct and in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules. • This translation is a free service, bearing in mind that the original Arabic text is the official text.