Arab Coalition refers Yemen’s Jabal Ras incident to assessment team

The Jabal Ras incident that occurred in Yemen, which was aimed at a legitimate Houthi military target, will be referred to the Joint Incidents Assessment Team to consider the possibility of an accident happening and citizen casualties occurring because of it, Arab Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said on Tuesday.

Maliki stressed the coalition’s commitment to abide by rules of engagement and the manner in which use of force is implemented.

At the weekly press conference held in Riyadh, Maliki reviewed the coalition’s efforts and the efforts of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Yemen’s al-Mahrah governorate which was ravaged by floods due to a tropical storm that caused heavy rainfall on coastal cities since Sunday.

Maliki added that a crisis management unit was formed to manage the crisis, and aid is being brought to the areas inflicted by air.

Maliki also said that the Yemeni army was able to seize a large amount of weapons from the Iran-backed Houthi militias, adding that the coalition forces target a missile launch pad in Saada as well as militiamen in Hajjah who were launching an unmanned aircraft. A warehouse used to store weapons by the Houthis was also targeted in the Bajil district, as well as militiamen in Kitaf and Baqe’a.

“Saudi Arabia provided 90 security vehicles to local authorities in al-Mahrah, in addition to operations restoring hope which includes restoring stability in liberated governorates, and providing financial support, training and necessary weapons to security forces for the purpose of maintaining security and stability,” Maliki said.

Maliki added that a medical center was established in the province of Hajjah stressing that this comes within the process of restoring stability, and that assistance will continue to be provided in all areas in Yemen whether it’s under the control of the Houthis or the legitimate government.

Maliki stressed that the Houthi militias are preventing vessels carrying relief materials, petroleum derivatives from entering the country, even though these shipments were given permits by the coalition. He added that the Houthis thrive off of black markets and use the humanitarian situation as “a cover in front of the international community.” He said that the total number of permits between 2015 to 2018 amount to 32,445.

Maliki also showed videos of Houthi militias violating international humanitarian laws by using mosques and schools to protect themselves from being targeted. He also showed how they plant mines on public roads and residential areas.

Maliki said that they were able to remove 2,020 mines and explosive devices in the second week of October. He added that the total Houthi casualties between October 8 and October 10 reached 811.