عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

JIAT Refutes Five Recent Allegations against Arab Coalition in Yemen

JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour refuted a number of claims raised by global bodies and international organizations allegedly committed by the coalition forces, Asharq Al-Awsat
JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour refuted a number of claims raised by global bodies and international organizations allegedly committed by the coalition forces, Asharq Al-Awsat
TT
TT

JIAT Refutes Five Recent Allegations against Arab Coalition in Yemen

JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour refuted a number of claims raised by global bodies and international organizations allegedly committed by the coalition forces, Asharq Al-Awsat
JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour refuted a number of claims raised by global bodies and international organizations allegedly committed by the coalition forces, Asharq Al-Awsat

The Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) in Yemen announced on Wednesday the results of investigations into allegations against some military operations conducted by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition.

In a press conference, JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour refuted several claims raised by global bodies and international organizations allegedly committed by Coalition forces, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He confirmed that the investigations and collection of evidence have proven that the coalition has nothing to do with the attack that targeted a hospital in Saada and another one in Lahj governorate.

The team confirmed that the coalition attacked a health center in Sanaa Governorate in 2015 when the building was under construction and used by Houthis to store weapons and ammunition.

The spokesperson said that the targeting of the center was eligible for being a military target.

The team also refuted claims that missiles hit two buildings at Al-Thawrah General Hospital, which served hundreds of thousands of Yemenis in Taiz city.

According to the spokesperson, the probe confirmed that no military operations were conducted by the coalition near the hospital during the mentioned date.

Al-Mansour reviewed the results of assessing five incidents included in those claims as follows:

With regard to what was observed by (JIAT) in the open sources about the report issued by (Doctors for Human Rights) dated (March 2020), which included that on (18/01/2016) Coalition forces aircraft attacked (Ketaf Rural Hospital) in (Ketaf and Al-Baqa) directorate of (Saada) governorate, the attack led to a temporary suspension of services, the hospital was then rehabilitated by (UNICEF).

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, open sources, coordinates provided by the representative of the legitimate Yemeni government in JIAT and other relevant agencies for the health centers and hospitals contained in the report, JIAT, after assessment of evidences, found that (Ketaf Rural Hospital) is located in the city of (Ketaf) in the eastern part of (Saada) governorate, and is in the Coalition Forces No Strike List (NSL).

By studying the air missions carried out by the Coalition forces on (18/01/2016), which is the date of the claim, JIAT found that the Coalition forces did not carry out any air missions in (Ketaf) city, and that the closest military target the Coalition forces dealt with was (42.5) kms away from (Ketaf Rural Hospital) of the claim.

And on studying the air missions carried out by the Coalition forces one day before and a day after the date of the claim, JIAT found the Coalition forces did not carry out any air missions in (Ketaf) city. JIAT specialists studied the satellite images of the claimed site (Ketaf Rural Hospital), after the date of the claim, and found the claim consists of a building and its annexes, surrounded by a fence. And there are no signs of destruction or damages caused by aerial targeting on (Ketaf Rural Hospital) building.

Also, by comparing the allegation with the air mission carried out on the day of the claim, JIAT found the site of (Ketaf Rural Hospital) does not correspond to the site of the military target, as the claimed site is in (Ketaf and Al-Baqa) directorate, while the military target is in (Sahar) directorate, (42.5) km away from each other. Hence by logical deduction, JIAT found that Coalition forces did not target (Ketaf Rural Hospital) in (Ketaf and Al-Baqa) directorate of (Saada) governorate, on (18/01/2016) as claimed.

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, 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.

The third incident is with regard to what JIAT observed in the open sources regarding the report issued by (Doctors for Human Rights) dated (March 2020), that on (29/05/2015) Coalition aircraft struck (Ghadran Health Center), at the time the center was under construction, and Houthis were using it as a military base.

JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, mission execution procedures, after mission reports, video recording for the executed mission, satellite images, and the coordinates of the health centers and hospitals contained in the report, provided by all agencies and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that (Ghadhran Health Center) is located in north part of (Bani Hashish) directorate, east of (Sanaa) city, and that on the date of the claim it was a building under construction, it was not functioning, and was not in the Coalition Forces No Strike List (NSL) at the time.

With regard to the statement issued by the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, on (March 18, 2020), that on (13/03/2020), missiles hit two buildings at (Al-Thawrah General Hospital), which serves hundreds of thousands of Yemenis in (Taiz) city.

JIAT vetted the incident, and reviewed all documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedule, daily missions of the Coalition Surface Forces, satellite images, open sources, Coalition Forces No Strike List (NSL), Coalition Forces rules of engagement, provisions and principles of International Humanitarian Law and its customary rules, and after assessment of evidences, JIAT found that (Al-Thawrah Hospital) is located in the north-eastern part of (Taiz) city, within the urban area, and is in the Coalition Forces No Strike List (NSL).

With regard to what JIAT observed in the open sources regarding the report issued by (Doctors for Human Rights) dated (March 2020), that on (09/07/2015) coalition aircraft attacked (Alwaht Hospital), which was occupied by Houthi fighters and used as a military base at the time, the attack caused severe damage to the facility.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Yemeni Govt Forces Press Advance on Houthis Near Bab al-Mandeb, in Taiz

A fighter loyal to Yemen's legitimate government fires a machine gun balanced on a motorcycle at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (AFP)
A fighter loyal to Yemen's legitimate government fires a machine gun balanced on a motorcycle at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

Yemeni Govt Forces Press Advance on Houthis Near Bab al-Mandeb, in Taiz

A fighter loyal to Yemen's legitimate government fires a machine gun balanced on a motorcycle at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (AFP)
A fighter loyal to Yemen's legitimate government fires a machine gun balanced on a motorcycle at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (AFP)

Fighting spread across Yemen on Tuesday as government forces renewed their push against remaining Houthi pockets near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, while battles raged around Taiz amid heavy airstrikes on Houthi positions, reinforcements and supply lines.

Government forces reported gains in several strategic positions.

Fierce clashes erupted near Bab al-Mandeb between the Houthis and government forces backed by the Giants Brigades, Nation's Shield Forces and Tihama Brigades, as troops battled to seize hills overlooking the vital waterway.

The fighting coincided with airstrikes on Houthi positions around the port city of Mokha and along Yemen's western coast.

Government military sources said troops captured strategic hilltops after attacking Houthi positions, killing and wounding fighters and forcing others to flee by boat.

Preliminary reports pointed to strikes on boats and maritime supplies believed to be used by the Houthis to ferry reinforcements and equipment to positions near the strait.

Sources in the Nation's Shield Forces dismissed reports that the Houthis had seized the Kahboub mountains, saying their troops remained deployed at Dhubab Airport and across the surrounding mountain range.

A fighter loyal to Yemen's legitimate government operates a turret from the back of a pickup truck at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (AFP)

Government forces push forward in Taiz

Battles continued across Taiz city and its surrounding countryside, with airstrikes pounding Houthi positions, troop concentrations and reinforcements as government forces and local resistance fighters sought to strengthen their positions and thwart Houthi advances.

Government military sources said troops seized Mount al-Midan after fierce fighting backed by airstrikes. Field sources said government troops and local fighters also established fire control over in areas along the Al-Dhabab road.

Troops had begun clearing, securing and consolidating their newly captured positions, said Yemeni army Colonel Abdulbasit al-Bahr.

But government forces met stiff resistance near the Old Airport military camp and the Madrat area, where heavy fire and heavy weapons thwarted their attempts to advance, he revealed.

He reported Houthi fighters killed, wounded and captured, along with military vehicles destroyed or set ablaze.

Heavy clashes also broke out on the Shaqab and Al-Aqroud fronts, with both sides exchanging fire using various weapons. Government sources said troops repelled a Houthi attack in Al-Aqroud.

Authorities in Taiz said Houthi sniper fire killed five civilians and wounded five others, including children, in the villages of Hamma, Al-Damna and nearby communities. Shelling also struck residential neighborhoods on the city's outskirts. Local sources reported airstrikes near Taiz Airport and across several areas of the province.

A fighter loyal to Yemen's legitimate government fires a turret from the back of a pickup truck at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (AFP)

1,276 strikes

Yemen's armed forces said they carried out 1,276 strikes in 24 hours under Operation Dawn of Yemen, targeting Houthi military capabilities across multiple fronts in an indication of the widening campaign.

Military spokesman Colonel Majed al-Nuzaili said the strikes targeted command-and-control centers, defensive positions, firing positions, reinforcements, transport and supply vehicles, and weapons and ammunition depots.

Strikes also hit targets deeper inside Houthi-held territory in an effort to disrupt the group's ability to direct operations and regroup its forces, he said.

The military said the operations had neutralized about 382 Houthi commanders and fighters, destroyed or disabled 140 military vehicles and heavy weapons, and destroyed weapons and ammunition depots.

Nuzaili said simultaneous operations were continuing across Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda and the southern and southwestern fronts, targeting Houthi movements, defenses and supply lines.

The aim, he said, was to restrict the Houthis' ability to move reserves and concentrate forces on a single front.

As fighting intensified, government officials and rights groups raised alarms over the impact of shelling and the siege on civilians in Taiz.

Yemen's Human Rights Ministry condemned attacks on densely populated neighborhoods with mortar shells, Katyusha rockets and ballistic missiles.

It urged the international community to act to halt the attacks, lift the siege and hold those responsible for targeting civilians and civilian property accountable.

On the diplomatic front, Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani discussed the military escalation and its humanitarian fallout with European Union Ambassador to Yemen Patrick Simonnet, including the continuing siege of Taiz and attacks on civilian facilities.

Zindani urged international pressure to end the Houthi siege and reopen roads for civilians and humanitarian aid.

He also pointed to the European Commission's allocation of an additional 22.5 million euros in humanitarian assistance for Yemen.

Arab World

Syria Mourns Daraa Victims, Moves to Form Emergency Joint Committee with Jordan

Mourners pray over the bodies of those who were killed in airstrikes carried out by Jordan the night before on the village of Al-Taf in the Al-Lajat region, located in the northeastern countryside of Daraa, during their funeral on October 27, 2026. (AFP)
Mourners pray over the bodies of those who were killed in airstrikes carried out by Jordan the night before on the village of Al-Taf in the Al-Lajat region, located in the northeastern countryside of Daraa, during their funeral on October 27, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

Syria Mourns Daraa Victims, Moves to Form Emergency Joint Committee with Jordan

Mourners pray over the bodies of those who were killed in airstrikes carried out by Jordan the night before on the village of Al-Taf in the Al-Lajat region, located in the northeastern countryside of Daraa, during their funeral on October 27, 2026. (AFP)
Mourners pray over the bodies of those who were killed in airstrikes carried out by Jordan the night before on the village of Al-Taf in the Al-Lajat region, located in the northeastern countryside of Daraa, during their funeral on October 27, 2026. (AFP)

Residents of Syria's southern Daraa province mourned seven civilians killed in Jordanian airstrikes on Tuesday, as public anger mounted over the deaths of children and elderly people and calls grew for an investigation.

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the military action as "completely unacceptable," accusing what it called "suspicious parties" of seeking to undermine the close ties between the two countries.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said Syria and Jordan were coordinating to urgently establish a joint field and security committee to address on-the-ground violations and prevent their recurrence.

Mourners in Daraa demanded an investigation into the strikes, which hit several locations across the province, and called on Jordan to explain the intelligence behind its choice of targets.

Syria's state-run Al-Ikhbariya television quoted mourners as insisting the targeted sites were civilian and that no terrorist organizations operated in their province.

Military expert Imad Shahoud called the proposed joint committee "a belated measure that should have been taken before the operation."

A man inspects the damage in the aftermath of airstrikes carried out by Jordan on the village of Al-Taf in the Al-Lajat region, located in the northeastern countryside of Daraa, on October 27, 2026. (AFP)

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Shahoud said an error had caused civilian deaths and that the victims' families were entitled to compensation.

He placed primary responsibility on Jordanian intelligence, saying it should have verified its information and target coordinates in coordination with Syrian authorities.

Shahoud also pointed to what he described as a professional failure to conduct surveillance of the targets for at least 24 hours.

Questioning the use of F-16 fighter jets against a "terrorist cell," he said such operations should aim to capture suspects alive whenever possible.

Jordanian warplanes struck several locations in Daraa overnight Monday into Tuesday.

Daraa's Health Directorate put the casualty toll between dead and wounded at 10.

Syria's People's Assembly joined calls for a joint investigation, condemning the "crime that killed civilians, including women and children."

The assembly also underscored the deep ties between the Syrian and Jordanian peoples.

Despite the condemnation, official statements from Damascus and Amman signaled a shared desire to protect bilateral relations.

Syrian politician and People's Assembly member Moayad Ghazlan said relations between the two countries were "greater than any mistakes," while cautioning against blaming a third party without evidence.

"We are counting on bilateral relations being stronger than any mistakes, but we cannot accept a failure to investigate what happened, take responsibility for this grave incident or compensate families for the devastating loss of our martyrs' lives," Ghazlan told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Mourners join the funeral procession for five family members, including three children, killed in a Jordanian airstrike in southern Syria's Daraa province, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP)

He said security cooperation and broader ties between Syria and Jordan were improving, but suggested their joint fight against terrorism and firm opposition to Israeli violations had angered parties seeking to undermine the relationship.

Asked whether the strikes could damage bilateral ties, Ghazlan was emphatic. "Our relationship with Jordan must not be affected. It is strong and deeply rooted," he said, adding that such ties required full respect for sovereignty and coordination with Syrian authorities under agreed counterterrorism protocols.

Syrian analysts broadly agreed that a security failure had led to the civilian deaths, though questions remained over how the operation unfolded.

Political and media analyst Ali Eid pointed to a wider security gap in southern Syria, blaming Israeli actions for preventing Damascus from deploying sufficient security forces and carrying out adequate sweeps to secure the region.

Eid, himself from Daraa, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel was a major underlying cause of the disorder that had created conditions for such interventions, even if its role was not immediately visible.

He said the lack of coordination over the strikes exposed differences between Damascus and Amman on security matters, with the civilian deaths laying bare the consequences.

Eid said the Syrian Foreign Ministry had sought to balance its response by preserving relations with Jordan while asserting Syrian sovereignty and insisting on prior coordination for any future operations.

"Syrian territory is the responsibility of the Syrian state, not the Jordanian side," he said.

With no tangible evidence that terrorists were among those killed, Eid said the strikes had fueled widespread public anger and intensified pressure on Syria's government and president.

That pressure would likely force a different approach to security coordination, he said, though any such effort would probably "run into Israeli obstacles."

Arab World

Houthi Attacks Displace 270,000 Yemenis in Two Months

A displaced Yemeni child sits outside a tent at the Al-Fardous displacement camp in Ras Imran, on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)
A displaced Yemeni child sits outside a tent at the Al-Fardous displacement camp in Ras Imran, on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)
TT
TT

Houthi Attacks Displace 270,000 Yemenis in Two Months

A displaced Yemeni child sits outside a tent at the Al-Fardous displacement camp in Ras Imran, on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)
A displaced Yemeni child sits outside a tent at the Al-Fardous displacement camp in Ras Imran, on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)

Caught between displacement camps that lack even the most basic necessities and perilous sea crossings, hundreds of thousands of Yemenis are facing yet another journey of displacement as the Houthis' military escalation has expanded since September of last year.

The crisis has extended far beyond the front lines, placing increasing pressure on governorates hosting displaced populations and spilling across Yemen's borders, all amid dwindling humanitarian funding and a declining capacity to meet growing needs.

Yemenis displaced by fighting in Taiz gather to receive food aid in the Salah al-Din area on the outskirts of Aden, Yemen, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdulnasser Alseddik)

As of October 23, more than 268,000 people had been displaced, almost all of them since the beginning of September, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) said. Displaced families are now sheltering in 62 districts across ten governorates.

As of October 17, 3,836 Yemenis have arrived in Djibouti, half of them children, including 282 under the age of five.

These figures reflect the growing scale of displacement from conflict zones, particularly in western Taiz, Lahj, and southern Hodeidah, where families have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. At the same time, host areas are increasingly struggling to absorb the rising numbers of displaced people and provide for their basic needs.

The wave of displacement due to Houthi attacks has expanded, exacerbating the humanitarian situation (Local media)

In Aden, the number of displaced people has more than doubled since October 7 to more than 42,000, while Lahj now hosts around 67,000.

The flight from violence has not been limited to land routes. Yemeni families have also taken to the sea in an attempt to escape areas of escalating conflict. Some boats reached shore before arriving at their intended destinations after running out of fuel, highlighting the dangers civilians face as they seek safer refuge.

As the number of arrivals continues to grow, families who fled their homes in haste are struggling to secure shelter, safe drinking water, healthcare, and other essential services.

At the same time, pressure is mounting on host communities that already suffer from limited resources, while humanitarian needs are increasing at a pace that far exceeds the capacity of available response efforts.

The suffering of the displaced does not end once they leave conflict zones. Many families are forced to take shelter in overcrowded public buildings, while others sleep in the open due to a lack of adequate accommodation.

Continuous flow of displaced persons from the outskirts of Lahij governorate (Local media)

The shortage of sanitation facilities and basic services further compounds their hardship. These conditions heighten the risks faced by children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

"The scale and speed of this displacement is leaving families in desperate need of help, and our response is struggling to keep pace," said IOM Yemen Chief of Mission Abdusattor Esoev. "Our teams are reaching people every day, but funding is falling far short. Without urgent support, more families will go without assistance that could save their lives."

With 44,736 families displaced, many are struggling to access clean water, health care and basic services amid severe fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices for basic food items and medicine.

Humanitarian access constraints in Taiz continue to slow aid delivery and the IOM faces a critical funding gap of $30 million over the next six months to provide shelter, emergency cash, protection, health care, clean water and sanitation, and to track displacement.

Displacement camps in Yemen lack the most basic necessities (Local media)

"Many families have had to flee more than once, each time facing the struggle to find somewhere safe to stay and access the support they need," said Esoev. "Support must reach both displaced families and the communities hosting them now, before more lives are put at risk."

Since August 1, IOM has worked with local authorities, UN partners and local organizations to reach 11,178 conflict-affected households with emergency shelter, household items, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and multi-purpose cash assistance.

IOM has also provided protection services to 6,757 migrants and displaced people and carried out 56,863 primary health care consultations.

The organization urged donors “to urgently scale up support to keep pace with rapidly growing needs, and on all parties to protect civilians and humanitarian workers and to ensure safe, unimpeded access to people in need.”