Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

Lib2011-023

Incident date

February 25, 2011

Location

الزاوية, Al Zawiya, Libya

Geolocation

32.759709, 12.732495 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 25th, 2011, Gaddafi forces bombed a mosque in Al Zawiya, killing ten using artillery and aircraft. No additional information on the victims was reported, although the deaths were reported by multiple sources on Twitter.

@alahlawy29 tweeted “an eyewitness from Al-Zawiya to Al-Jazeera: Anti-tanks and aircraft are used against demonstrators in Libya.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a mosque being struck in the city of Zawiya (الزاوية‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Zawiya are: 32.759709, 12.732495.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-052

Incident date

March 29, 2011

Location

مصراتة, Misurata, Libya

Geolocation

32.374457, 15.087794 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 18 civilians were allegedly killed by Gaddafi forces artillery shelling on Misurata.

According to Al Jazeera: “In Misurata, the rebels announced that Gaddafi forces had killed more than 18 civilians on Tuesday, and that government forces were still bombing the city and clashing with the fighters.”

Deutsche Welle wrote: “The forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi’s regime advanced today, Tuesday, backed by tank shells, into Misurata (150 km east of Tripoli), some areas of which are still under the control of the rebels, a spokesman for the National Transitional Council told AFP. “Misrata is in danger. The criminal forces (Muammar Gaddafi) are advancing inside the city and the tanks are shelling indiscriminately,” said the spokesman, who asked not to be identified. The spokesman added that the pro-regime forces only control the northwestern part of the city.”

DW added that “a medical source in the city of Misurata announced that the forces loyal to the Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had killed at least 142 people and wounded more than 1,400 people during their offensive against the rebels in the city, according to the French news agency. ‘Since March 18, we have received at least 142 dead,’ said the source, who declined to be identified. ‘We are unable to count the wounded, but we have exceeded 1,400 people, more than ninety of them are in critical condition,’ he added. He indicated that a Turkish ship is expected to arrive during the day to transport about fifty wounded people.” It unclear if these were civilians or rebels.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Misurata (مصراتة), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.374457, 15.087794. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    18
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected targets
    Libyan rebel forces, Other

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

Lib2011-016

Incident date

February 20–21, 2011

Location

فشلوم و تاجوراء, Fashloum and Tajoura, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.864063, 13.275073 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 20th and 21st 2011, Gaddafi forces launched artillery and airstrikes on Tripoli, injuring dozens and killing over 200, according to local claims. Agence France Presse quoted witnesses reporting massacres in the neighbourhoods of Fashalom and Tajoura. Other eyewitnesses reported helicopter bombings in the Souq al-Jumaa area.

A video showed helicopters over the skies of Tripoli, dated the 21st. Other videos showed the injured in Tripoli’s central hospital, dated the 20th. Mercenary forces were reported to be among the actors involved in these strikes in Tripoli, occupying al-Jumhuriya street in Fashalom.

A UN investigation later stated that “doctors informed the Commission that between 20-21 February 2011 over 200 bodies were brought into morgues”.

Adel Mohamad Saleh was quoted in Al-Jazeera as reporting over 250 dead, while the BBC spoke of reports of 150 fatalities in Tripoli.

A Facebook post from the group ‘If the people want their freedom’ stated: “On 21-02-2011, between nine and eleven at night, anti-aircraft shells were flying in the sky, when the Khamis Brigade was hit with anti-aircraft guns in the Fashlum area in Tripoli. These anti-aircraft machine guns had also struck at the dwellings, the doors of the dwellings, and whatever”.

One source stated that over 700 were killed overall, although this number was not reflected by any other sources.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    150 – 700
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A brief video reported to be showing a helicopter over Tripoli on Feb 20, 2011. From the 17feb2011 Youtube channel.
  • The image shows several cars and armed men standing outside a street, reported the al-Jumhuriya Street, at the intersection of the Fashlum Al-Dhahra neighborhood in Tripoli. Image from the Taha Krewi Facebook page, dated Feb 21, 2011.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Fashloum (فشلوم) and the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء) within the Tripoli (طرابلس) district. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates of a middle point between these two locations are: 32.864063, 13.275073.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Fashloum (فشلوم) and the town of Tajoura (تاجوراء) within the Tripoli (طرابلس) district.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Gaddafi Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    150 – 700
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–36
  • 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 attacker
    Gaddafi Forces
  • Suspected target
    Libyan rebel forces

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM012-C

Incident date

May 24, 2010

Location

مَأْرِب, Marib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.329227, 45.441995 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians died and two to three others were wounded in a botched US airstrike in Marib Province on May 24, 2010, according to local sources. In addition, between one and two militants were killed and another injured in the same incident.

Civilian victims were named as:

Jaber Ben Ali Ben Jaber al-Shabwani, male, deputy governor of Marib (dead)
Abd Al-Majid Said ‘Anij Al-Shabwani, male (dead)
Ali ‘Aziz Al-Ja’uri Al-Dhamari, male (dead)
Fahd, uncle of Jaber al-Shabwani (wounded)
Fahd Ben Saoud Ben Maj’al al-Shabwani (wounded)
Muhammed Ben Said Ben Jamil, brother of Ali Ben Said Ben Jamil who is allegedly an AQAP member (wounded)

The US strike on a convoy of vehicles in the Marib desert reportedly killed Marib Province’s deputy governor, Jaber al-Shabwani, who was a top mediator in the government effort to demilitarize members of AQAP. Al-Shabwani was in a key position to negotiate, given that his brother, Ayad, was the local AQAP leader. On May 24, multiple sources, including Front Page, reported that the deputy governor had been en route to meet Al Qaeda members to seek their surrender. Reuters reported that the strike had meant to hit a farm allegedly harboring Al Qaeda operatives Ayed al-Shabwani and Mohammed Saeed bin Jaradan. Both names have been cited by news sources as alleged intended targets.

Reports on the death toll of the incident vary.

Swiss human rights group Alkamara named three who died in the strike in an October 2013 report. Along with deputy governor al Shabwani, the researchers found Abd al Majid Said Anij al Shabwani and Ali Aziz al Jauri al Dhamari were killed. The uncle, Fahed al Shabwani, was injured, according to the report.

Reuters cited a member of the local council in Marib according to whom the pre-down strike on Jaber al-Shabwani’s car killed him and three of his companions, while also wounding two others.

Aletq reported that “Al-Shabwani was killed with four of his bodyguards on Monday night”.

Long War Journal reported that “Jaber al-Shabwani, five of his bodyguards, and two Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula operatives, including a local leader, were killed in an airstrike (…).” Shabwani was killed while meeting with Al Qaeda leader Mohammed Saeed bin Jameel at his farm, the Yemen Observer reported. Jameel, who is also known as Mohammed Saeed bin Jardane, and another al Qaeda operative were reported killed in the strike. The death of Mohammed bin Jameel was also reported by Al Jazeera. However, other sources including BBC News, RTT News and Aletq said that Jameel was only wounded and escaped.

In 2012, Project on Middle East Political Science reported that “The Marib governorate, east of Sanaa, has been wracked with chaos ever since the death of Jaber al-Shabwani, son of prominent Sheikh Ali al-Shabwani, killed by a U.S. drone strike in May 2010.”

Immediately after the strike occurred, Al Jazeera wrote that “Members of Jaber al-Shabwani tribe responded to his killing by attacking the pipeline that carries oil from Marib to Ras Isa, a terminal on the Red Sea coast.” The Nation said that tribesman also opened fire on government buildings and tried to occupy the presidential palace in Marib. “As anti-government protest began sweeping the country, Ali and his tribesmen ramped up their campaign against the government’s infrastructure. The oil pipeline was attacked several more times, and attacks against power stations began”, according to Foreign Policy and POMEPS.

While the Yemeni authorities expressed their regret at the killing of a senior official in the Marib governorate and formed a committee to investigate the incident, Marib Press reported on March 15, 2011, almost a year after the strike occurred, that tribesman once again blew up oil pipelines because the government had still not disclose the exact circumstances of the death of al-Shabwani. In July 2012, Yemen Press reported that oil export still had not resumed “because tribesmen prevented the repair of the main crude pipeline that was sabotaged last year.”

The destruction of oil pipelines led to billions of dollars lost in revenue for the Yemeni government and major fuel shortages, as reported by CS monitor and Yemen Press. Moreover, Alkamara said that the strike on al-Shabwani raised the appeal of Al Qaeda in the region. Similarly, the New York times called the May strike “a propaganda bonanza for Al Qaeda”. NYT quoted Abdul Ghani al-Eryani, a Yemeni political analyst, according to whom “the civilians deaths gave ammunition to Al Qaeda and the Salafists.” According to the NYT, “It would be 12 months before the US struck again in Yemen.

Sources are conflicted as to who is responsible for the strike. Arab News reported that “A statement from a Yemeni High Security Council source expressed sorrow for the death of Al-Shabwani and called him a martyr, but did not specify who carried out the strike or what type of aircraft was used. However, Ahmed Bin Zabaa, a member of the panel investigating the May 24 strike said that “locals blamed a US drone that has been flying in their area for several months now for the strike.” Similarly, Mareb Press reported that “Sheikh Ali bin Jaber al-Shabwani (…) was killed by a US drone aircraft (…).” US intelligence officials contacted by The Long War Journal would not comment on questions about the possible US involvement in airstrikes in Yemen, but did confirm that the US continues to provide logistical and intelligence support for Yemeni counterterrorism operations.

In late 2011 the Wall Street Journal reported that some current and former US military officials were now claiming that they were fed misleading intelligence which “may have been intended to result in Mr. Shabwani’s death.” But there was also a clear suggestion of incompetence. An official involved in the operation told the paper: “It turned out you didn’t really know who was at all those [Yemeni] meetings. JSOC, frankly, wasn’t as up to speed as they should have been.”

The Yemen government reportedly provided intelligence used in the strike but denied that it had misled the US in any way.

The incident took place in the late evening of Monday May 24th, as reported by Yemen media in the immediate aftermath. According to Alkamara the strike took place at approximately 8pm. Soon afterwards the date of May 25th was more commonly stated.

Due to the nature of both CIA and US military involvement in Yemen, and the lack of official acknowledgement by the CIA for their involvement, Airwars grades this event as “declared” due to the comments made by US government sources to media, in lieu of public reporting on CIA actions. It is unclear if US involvement in the operation was limited to providing intelligence and munitions, or also included more extensive operational actions

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Jaber al-Shabwani
Adult male deputy governor of Marib killed
Fahed al-Shabwani
Adult male Reported injured by Alkarama killed
Fahed Jaber Hassan Al-Shabwani
Adult male injured
Fahed Saud Al-Shabwani
Adult male injured
Abd al Majid Said Anij al Shabwani
Adult male Reported killed by Alkarama killed
Fahed Ben Saoud Ben Majal al Shabwani
Adult male Reported injured by Alkarama injured

The victims were named as:

Ben Aziz
Adult male killed
Mohammad Saeed Jameel
Adult male Reported injured by Alkarama, brother of Ali Ben Said Ben Jamil who is allegedly an AQAP member killed
Ali Aziz al Jauri al Dhamari
Adult male Reported killed by Alkarama killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (103) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Tribal leader Jaber al-Shabwani (shown second from right) participating in a seminar on development in Ma’rib in March 2010, two months before he was killed in a U.S. drone strike. (Photo: Nadwa Al-Dawsari, posted by POMED)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Marib (مَأْرِب) province, for which the generic coordinates are: 15.329227, 45.441995. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

In late 2011 the Wall Street Journal reported that some current and former US military officials were now claiming that they were fed misleading intelligence which “may have been intended to result in Mr. Shabwani’s death.” But there was also a clear suggestion of incompetence. An official involved in the operation told the paper: “It turned out you didn’t really know who was at all those [Yemeni] meetings. JSOC, frankly, wasn’t as up to speed as they should have been.”

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (3–6 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (103) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YEMYEM002

Incident date

March 15, 2010

Location

مودية, Moudia, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.948639, 46.202048 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Yemeni strike on a suspected Al Qaeda training camp in the Modia district, Abyan province on March 15th 2010 killed up to 20 civilians, according to local media. This strike came a day after another strike on the Modia district on March 14th (USYEM010-B).

Al Jazeera reported that local officials stated that security forces launched three raids in the southern province of Abyan, including the Modia district.

Local residents told AFP that the attacks on consecutive days had caused an unspecified number of civilian casualties. A Reuters report reported that residents told Reuters that up to 20 civilians may have been killed in the attacks on the Abyan province. References to civilian casualties do not specify whether they occurred during the March 14th strikes (USYEM010-B) or on the March 15th strikes.

The AFP report stated: “Yemen’s air force launched a second successive day of air strikes on Monday, targeting a suspected A-Qaeda training camp in the same area, the defence ministry said. A brief ministry statement said the raids were carried out in Moudia, but did not confirm whether anyone was killed or wounded in the latest strike. “Furthermore AFP clarified that Jet fighters flew over the province, which is dominated by southern separatists.”

However, a security official, who asked not to be named, “said the disfigured remains of those killed in the strikes had been transported to the capital for DNA testing, and suggested the death toll could be as high as nine people.”

AFP went on to say that “Moudia residents AFP reached by telephone alleged the raids caused civilian casualties, but fell short of giving figures. Some said they fled their homes in fear of being targeted by the strikes.”

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 20
  • 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 attacker
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–9

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Moudia (مودية) district, for which the generic coordinates are: 13.948639, 46.202048. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 20
  • 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 attacker
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–9

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM010-B

Incident date

March 14, 2010

Location

مودية, Moudia, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.948639, 46.202048 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A night time precision strike reportedly carried out by the Yemeni air force or the US forces killed between two and nine militants in an air raid on a suspected terrorist training site in Abyan province on March 14, 2010.

Al-Jazeera reported “Local residents told the Reuters news agency that as many as 20 civilians may have been killed in those attacks targeting Al Qaeda.” AFP reported civilian casualties of an unknown number, adding that “some said they fled their homes in fear of being targeted by the strikes.” It is likely that the civilian casualties referred to occurred during the strikes on the following day, March 15th (assessed in USYEM011-C).

According to AFP, Jamil Nasser Abdullah al-Anbari, also known as Abi Saber al-Abyani, believed to be the leader of Al Qaeda in southern Abyan province, was one of two militants killed.

However, Critical Threats reported that three alleged Al Qaeda members were killed – the others named as Samir al Sanaani, (also known as Abu Fawwaz al-Sanaani or Amin al-Maqalih), and Ahmed Amzarba.The Long War Journal quoted the Yemeni Defense Ministry, who claimed the two Al Qaeda commanders were plotting to carry out attacks “against vital installations” inside Yemen. Gregg Carlstrom, a correspondent for The Economist, added that one of the men killed was from Saudi Arabia.

A brief statement from the Yemen government said the raids were carried out in Moudia, with an official saying that up to nine people died.

Yemeni soldiers were reportedly dispatched to the scene of this and the subsequent strike to take samples from corpses for DNA analysis. AQAP later set up a Jamil al Anbari Martyrs’ Brigade, and released an audio eulogy to the “fallen fighters”, which stated that Al-Anbari and al-Maqalih (Sanaani) was trying to connect to the net when he was killed by an air raid in the area of Jiza in Abyan province therefore reportedly confirming these deaths.

Gregg Carlstrom, a correspondent for The Economist posted on Twitter that: “Some speculation in the Yemeni press that the Abyan airstrike targeted the Southern Movement, not AQAP. Saleh’s people deny, naturally.”

The New York Times referred to this incident as “the next known American strike” without citing how this was known, adding that the strike killed “Al Qaeda operative named Jamil al-Anbari and possibly another militant” and that “on June 19, the group retaliated with a lethal attack on a government security compound in Aden that left 11 people dead and said the “brigade of the martyr Jamil al-Anbari” carried it out.”

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The aftermath of the strike (Al Motamar, March 15, 2010)
  • Explosion from the strike (Al Jazeera, March 15, 2010)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Moudia (مودية) district, for which the generic coordinates are: 13.948639, 46.202048. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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US Forces Assessment:

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

Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–9
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

YEMYEM001

Incident date

January 20, 2010

Location

عرق ال شبوان, Erq al Shabwan, Marib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.51479, 45.37014 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two people were killed by an alleged Yemeni airstrike, targeting the home of al-Shabwani, a leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the Mareb province in Erq al Shabwan the morning of January 20th, 2010. It is unclear whether all of those killed were belligerents or if civilians, in addition to belligerents, were killed in the operation.

The alleged incident casts doubts on the Yemini government’s assertions that Al-Shabwani and al-Raimi, Al Qaeda’s military chief, had been killed in an airstrike five days earlier (USYEM007-B).

According to a tribal source commenting on the alleged incident, an unspecified number of people were killed but did not state whether they were civilians or not.

The Yemeni government reported that they targeted the home and farm of Al-Shabwani with four raids, three on the house and one on an orange grove near the village and house of Al-Shabwana which is suspected to house a dozen Al Qaeda members. Furthermore, Sana´a officials revealed that there was an exchange of fire by the Al Qaeda members with an anti-aircraft weapon.

The Yemeni government had claimed just a week prior that they had killed Al-Shabwani. However, The Nation and France24 later reported that Al-Shabwani was killed during a battle with the army on July 20, 2011.

Herald Net stated that the alleged airstrike targeted two of the most wanted Al Qaeda figures, Al-Shabwani and al-Raimi, for the second time that week. According to Herald Net “Al-Raimi was described as one of Yemen’s most-wanted militants accused of plotting to assassinate the U.S. ambassador. Yemeni officials have said he escaped a government attack on him last month.”

The Long War Journal quoted the editor of the Yemen Post as saying that Shabwani had been the primary target of several recent attacks. It also stated that an orange grove near Shabwani’s home was hit, where “Al Qaeda fighters were reportedly sheltering”.

A Yemeni tribal source confirmed the airstrikes in Erq Al Shabwan village to news agency AFP, and said a “number of people had been killed”. However, the source did not give the combat status of these people.

Yemen Post editor Hakim Almasmari told Voice of America that there had been 17 raids throughout the day, targeting Shabwani. “They are still ongoing…Until now, there is only one Al Qaida leader killed. [Yemeni security forces] have troops on the ground, but doing nothing. Most of the attacks are from the air,” he said.

Voice of America added that “militants close to Shabwani claim he survived the raids.” In addition, “Al-Jazeera TV showed images of the damaged compound, although it was not clear when they were taken. Missiles appear to have pierced a gaping hole on one side of the mud-brick fortress.”

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Erq Al Shabwan (عرق آل شبوان), for which the generic coordinates are: 15.51479, 45.37014. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM007-B

Incident date

January 15, 2010

Location

الاجاشر, Al Ajashar, Saada, Yemen

Geolocation

17.183333, 44.800000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged Yemeni security forces strike or US airstrike reportedly struck two vehicles in Al Ajasher between Sa’ada and Jawf province. Multiple sources reported the alleged air strike took place in the afternoon of January 15th 2010. Initially sources reported that up to seven alleged AQAP militants had been killed in the strike. However later sources disagreed on belligerents being killed, with an AQAP source stating that militants were only injured. No civilian harm was reported.

Al- Arabiya reported: “Two cars carrying eight dangerous Al Qaeda members were hit in an area between Saada and Al-Jawf,” the source said, adding, “Perhaps two survived and managed to escape.”

Al-Arabiya named Ayed al-Shabwani and Abdullah Hadi al-Tais as being killed in the incident. Almotamar added the names of Ammar Ubada Al-Waili and Saleh Al-Tais as hit in the strike but Al- Arabiya quoted a Yemeni security source who said that Ammar and Saleh survived the strikes.

Critical threats journalists also named Abu Ayman al Masri as being killed in the alleged strike however Jamestown later reported he had survived and later been arrested in August 2010: “Kuwaiti daily recently published a transcript of the interrogation of Shaykh Ibrahim Muhammad Salih al-Banna (a.k.a. Abu Ayman al-Masri), the Egyptian former intelligence chief of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) who was arrested in early August (al-Jarida, November 4; almethaq.net, August 16).”

Initial sources also named Qassem Al-Rimi as being killed in the alleged strike however it was later reported by multiple sources that he also survived.

Multiple sources corroborated that the named belligerents were high profile men in the Al Qaeda network however Reuters reported that the Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda denied that any of their men had been killed in the alleged strike: ‘”The latest of these claims is that it killed six of them between the provinces of al-Jawf and Saada. We assure our Muslim nation that none of the Mujahideen were killed in that strike, but some have suffered mild injuries.”’ Given this, the number of belligerents reported to have been killed is between 0-7.

The Novak blog added “AQAP alleged the Yemeni government was engaged in a propaganda campaign to deceive the United States in order to justify increased counter-terror funding from the US and other Western nations.”

Involvement of the US has been questioned in multiple sources. The NYtimes reported: “It was not clear whether the airstrike was carried out with help or coordination from the United States, which has provided firepower and intelligence for some recent raids on Al Qaeda’s Yemen-based affiliate.” The source added context that the US involvement in Yemen had been complicated due to “the specter of American intervention arouses anger in Yemen and has been used by Al Qaeda to recruit new members.” The Long War Journal reported that: “Intelligence officials contacted by The Long War Journal would not comment on the strike.” Given the precision nature of the strike on two moving vehicles, and the limitations of the Yemeni air force, it seems unlikely that the Yemeni air force carried out the strikes.

The incident occured at approximately 2:30 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–7
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Abu Hurayrah Qasim al Raymi (Long War Journal, January 15, 2010)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of Al Ajashar (الاجاشر), for which the generic coordinates are: 17.183333, 44.800000. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Yemeni Air Force Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Yemeni Air Force
  • Yemeni Air Force position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attackers
    US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–7
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (18) [ collapse]