Incident Code
USYEM273
Incident Date
30 August 2016
Location
Shabwa, Yemen
Airwars Assessment
Last Updated: May 7, 2026
(Previous Incident Code: YEM241 )
The US reported it had killed three AQAP fighters in a strike in Shabwa, according to a Centcom press release published on September 6th.
It was one of three “counter-terrorism strikes” against AQAP mentioned in the press release.
The men killed were named as Abu Shakha al-Awlaqi, Abu al-Bara’ al-Awlaqi and Abu Tha’ir al-Awlaqi by Dr Elisabeth Kendall in a tweet.
The sources reads, “US #drone strike east of Ataq in Shabwa kills Abu Shakha al-Awlaqi, Abu al-Bara’ al-Awlaqi & Abu Tha’ir al-Awlaqi.”
Military Statements
U.S. Forces Assessment
Known belligerent
U.S. Forces
U.S. Forces position on incident
Not yet assessed
U.S. Forces Strike Report
September 6, 2016
Release Number 20160906-25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla. — The U.S. military conducted three counterterrorism strikes against al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula in the Shabwah Governorate in central Yemen.
A strike on Aug. 24 killed four al-Qa’ida operatives, a strike on Aug. 30 killed three al-Qa’ida operatives, and a strike on Sept. 4 killed six al-Qa’ida operatives and injured one.
Strikes against al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen put consistent pressure on the terrorist network and prevent them from plotting and executing attacks against U.S. persons, our homeland and allies.
AQAP remains a significant threat to the region, the United States and beyond. Al-Qa’ida’s presence has a destabilizing effect on Yemen; it is using the unrest in Yemen to provide a haven from which to plan future attacks against our allies as well as the U.S. and its interests.
The U.S. will not relent in its mission to degrade, disrupt and destroy al-Qa’ida and its remnants. We remain committed to defeating AQAP and denying it safe haven regardless of its location. Strikes conducted by the U.S. in Yemen continue to diminish AQAP’s presence in the region.