(Previous Incident Code: YEM184 )

US drones reportedly killed at least two people in what was the third consecutive strike to reportedly hit a moving vehicle in Shabwa province.

Military, security and tribal sources told the Associated Press and AFP that two or three people were killed in the strike, respectively. However conflicting reports appeared to come from AQAP. One source from the group said the strike killed seven. However the report citing that source was taken down within hours of publication. The group’s spokesman denied the attack took place and that anyone died. It is unusual for the group to falsely deny a strike took place.

The strike hit on the border with Bayda province, where AQAP is fighting Houthi militiamen, a security source said.

A military source and a tribal source said the vehicle was loaded with weapons when the strike hit. This a common element to drone strike reports in Yemen. It at times appears to be the product of supposition by a source and used as an explanation for the size of an explosion rather. On this occasion, the military source said: “The al Qaeda gunmen were attempting to move weapons which they looted in the 19th Infantry Brigade last month.”

The strike reportedly hit at night or at dawn, increasing the probability it was a US strike as the Yemen Air Force is incapable of flying at night, besides hit a moving target at night.