Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMTr162

Incident date

April 18, 2018

Location

مديرية الصومعة, Al Suma'a, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.166667, 45.831111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Pro-AQAP feeds reported on April 18th 2018 that Abu Nasir al-Baydani and other “brothers” [Al Qaeda fighters] were killed by a US drone strike in Sama’a, in Bayda governorate, according to Dr Elisabeth Kendall, an academic.

No other known sources reported a strike, and it was unclear when the event took place. CENTCOM later informed the Long War Journal of four US military actions in Yemen during April, none of which were on this date: “Four total strikes, one each in Shabwah (April 26) and Al Bayda (April 23), and two in Hadramout (both on April 11).”

Airwars has assessed that at least three alleged AQAP militants (al-Baydani and at least two “brothers”) were reportedly killed in an event we have for now attributed to this date. It may be however that these deaths relate to an earlier US action in Bayda.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Al Suma’a District (مديرية الصومعة) for which the generic coordinates are: 14.166667, 45.831111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the Al Suma’a District (مديرية الصومعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    3

Sources (3) [ collapse]