Riyadh: A statement has been issued by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) concerning allegations that Coalition Forces targeted Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages in the Maidi Directorate of Hajjah Governorate on September 27, 2015.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the statement addresses claims made in a report by a panel of experts on Yemen, dated January 26, 2016. The report alleged that airstrikes targeted the aforementioned villages near the Saudi Arabian border on the specified date, although no coordinates were provided for the alleged locations.

JIAT conducted a thorough investigation, reviewing various documents such as air tasking orders, daily mission schedules, mission execution procedures, and after-mission reports. The team also conducted visits to operation centers and related field units, examined satellite images, and reviewed Coalition Forces' rules of engagement as well as principles of International Humanitarian Law. The assessment confirmed that the villages are located in the northeastern part of the Maidi Directorate.

Upon examining the air missions carried out by Coalition Forces on the date of the claim, JIAT found no air missions were conducted over Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages on September 27, 2015. Further analysis of missions conducted one day before and after the claimed date also revealed that no air missions were carried out in the Maidi Directorate on September 26 or September 28, 2015.

Consequently, JIAT concluded that the Coalition Forces did not target Bani Zaila'a and Zaila'a villages in the Maidi Directorate of Hajjah Governorate on the claimed date.