Wrong information behind Sanaa hall bombing

Manama : Wrong information passed by a party affiliated to the Yemeni Presidency of the General Chief of Staff was the cause of the October 8 ceremony hall bombing in Sanaa, the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) said.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), JIAT said that it initiated an investigation into the bombing immediately after it sadly occurred and that the Coalition Forces Command fully cooperated with the probe.

The investigation examined all related documents, and assessed evidence, including the rules of engagement (ROEs) and the testimonies of concerned personnel and those involved in the incident. JIAT has concluded that the party wrongly passed information that there was a gathering of armed Houthi rebels in a known location in Sana'a, and insisted that the location be targeted immediately as a legitimate military target.

The Air Operations Center in Yemen directed a close air support mission to target the location without obtaining approval from the Coalition command to support legitimacy and without following the Coalition command’s precautionary measures to ensure that the location is not a civilian one that may not be targeted. A Coalition aircraft in the area carried out the mission, which resulted in several deaths and injuries.

JIAT has found that because of non-compliance with Coalition rules of engagement (ROEs) and procedures, and the issuing of incorrect information a Coalition aircraft wrongly targeted the location, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.

JIAT has therefore concluded that appropriate action, in accordance with Coalition regulations, must be taken against those who caused the incident, and that compensation must be offered to the families of the victims. Moreover, Coalition forces must immediately review their rules of engagement (ROEs) and update their procedures to ensure adherence in future.

JIAT is still gathering and analyzing data related to the incident, namely reports about some sides that used this erroneous bombing to increase the number of victims, in coordination with the relevant agencies of the legitimate Yemeni government and concerned states, and will announce the results as soon as its investigations are complete.