Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEM133-C

Incident date

October 28, 2012

Location

وادي آل أبو جبارة, Wadi Al Abu Jabarah, Sa'dah, Yemen

Geolocation

17.143370, 44.174108 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the 28th October 2012 at 10am in the Wadi al Abu Jabara area in Saada Governorate, northern Yemen, a suspected US drone conducted three airstrikes against two houses in the area, injuring two civilians, a woman and her son, and killing between three and four alleged Al Qaeda militants and injuring one, according to local and international media. The Long War Journal reported that unmanned Predators of Reapers carried out the attack, firing several missiles, which only the US had the capability to do at the time.

The Yemeni Defence Ministry quoted the Governor of Saada, Faris Manna, as saying that the raid killed three militants, two of whom hold Saudi nationality and the third Yemeni. Faris Manna also said that “The two Saudis gave money to Al Qaeda to finance terrorist operations” in Yemen and added “that a local leader of the militant network, Omar Saleh al-Tiss, was seriously wounded in a raid on the way to his son’s wedding.” Xinhua news also reported a local official saying that Omar Saleh al-Tiss had been injured in the attack and that “A woman and her son were among the injured”. United States News also reported that a woman and her son had been injured in the attack.

The BBC quoted Yemeni tribal sources saying that: “Three suspected Al Qaeda militants were killed in three separate raids carried out by drones in Saada governorate,” against Wadi al Abu Jabara, an Al Qaeda stronghold. AFP and French Press received the same information from tribal sources. A local source said that the strike took place at 10am when people were arriving for a wedding.

Reuters referenced some reports saying that “Hadi al-Tais, a local Al Qaeda commander, had been targeted in the attack, but there was no confirmation that he was among the dead”.

The incident occured at 10:00:00 local time.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted two houses (one of which was owned by Omar Saleh Al Tais) in the Wadi Al Abu Jabarah ( وادي آل أبو جبارة) area, in Sa’ada governorate. The generic coordinates for the Abu Jabarah valley are: 17.143370, 44.174108, it is unclear where in the valley the strike took place. The coordinates for the settlement called Abu Jabarah are: 17.154867, 44.198050. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Wadi Al Abu Jabarah ( وادي آل أبو جبارة)

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (44) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged US airstrikes on October 28, 2012. (Image posted by akhbarelyom)

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3–4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (44) [ collapse]