(Previous Incident Code: YEMT085)

US airstrikes reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants in the Badi Al Awad district of Bayda governorate at around 3am on May 23rd 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Several sources, including Yemeni security officials spoken with by the Associated Press, suggested that actions by US drones and helicopter gunships took place in the area, with some indicating that multiple “residential” houses were burned or destroyed in the strikes. Some local language social-media sources, including @shfinews, mentioned four “raids” in the area.

Some sources including Sky News Arabia reported that the strikes took place at around 3am in the morning. One local language Twitter source reported on May 23rd that a drone strike in Al Bayda had killed two AQAP leaders, though the exact location, timing, and alleged belligerent of that alleged strike was unclear. Another Twitter source. @FuadRajeh, suggested that “no casualties were reported from raids in Bayda”. Airwars has therefore assessed that between zero and two militants were reportedly killed in this strike.

According to Al Khabar Now, there were unconfirmed reports that strikes were followed by a troop landing. “Clashes” in Bayda were also mentioned by sources cited in reporting by Akhbaralaan, as well as some local-language social-media sources. It is possible that these reports instead reflected a confirmed US special forces operation in Marib at around the same time (USYEMTr084-C).