US Forces in Yemen

US Forces in Yemen

Mabkhout Ali al Ameri with his 18-month old son Mohammed, shortly after a botched US raid on al Ghayil in January 2017 had killed at least 20 villagers, including Mohammed's mother Fatim Saleh Mohsen. © Iona Craig

Belligerent
US Forces
Country
Yemen
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Strike Type
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Incident Code

USYEMTr074

Incident date

April 16, 2017

Location

مودية, Northern outskirts of Mudiyah, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.929915, 46.079702 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US naval strike reportedly targeted an alleged AQAP site on the northern outskirts of Mudiyah town, Abyan governorate, on the evening of April 16th 2017. There were no reported associated civilian or militant casualties.

According to Aden al-Ghad, a missile exploded in Al Qassarat area, according to locals, but left no casualties. This was reportedly one of two US naval strikes in Mudiyah on the evening of April 16th, the other striking to the west of the town.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

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

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention two strikes on the outskirts of Mudiyah (مودية) town. One struck the Al Qassarat (الكسارات) area in the north, while another struck in the west, allegedly in the vicinity of a medical clinic. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Mudiyah town are: 13.929915, 46.079702

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, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr075

Incident date

April 16, 2017

Location

مديرية مودية, Mudiyah District, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.904075, 46.233215 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants in Qarn Amarim village, Mudiyah district of Abyan governorate, on the evening of April 16th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Some social media sources reported (for example @Demolinari) that a strike had taken place against militants travelling in a car in Mudiyah, though one instead suggested that the strike targeted a gathering of AQAP members. Abyan Now tweeted an image of a destroyed vehicle.

According to Erem News, “anti-terrorist forces” associated with the Yemeni government said that AQAP leaders were killed in the US strike against their car. As such, Airwars has assessed the minimum alleged number of dead belligerents as two.

The incident occured in the evening.

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A US drone strike reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants, possibly leaders, travelling in a car in Mudiyah on April 16th 2017 (@AbyanNewsNow, April 16th 2017)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Qarn Amarim (قرن أمارم) village, east of Mudiyah (مودية) town. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Mudiyah district (مديرية مودية) are: 13.904075, 46.233215.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Qarn Amarim (قرن أمارم) village, east of Mudiyah (مودية) town.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr072

Incident date

April 8, 2017

Location

الصومعة, Al Suma'a, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.207644, 45.815614 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One usually-reliable Twitter source, @demolinari, indicated that a US drone strike had killed two “suspected” AQAP militants in Al-Sawma’ah district, Bayda governorate, on the afternoon of April 8th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Several sources – for example Yemen Live News – reported that two alleged militants were killed around this time while travelling on a motorbike in the area. Local security sources told AFP that a strike, killing two in the same area, took place in the evening on April 7th. Most sources, though posted on April 8th, did not specify a date. Given this date discrepancy, these sources are accounted for in event USYEMTr071.

This event has been created to account for the possibility that a second strike event occurred on the afternoon of April 8th, though it is also possible that @demolinari’s report constituted late reporting of the earlier strike.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck within the Al Sawma’ah district (مديرية الصومعة), for which due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Sawma’ah district are: 14.207644, 45.815614.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck within the Al Sawma’ah district (مديرية الصومعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr071

Incident date

April 7, 2017

Location

مديرية الصومعة, Al Sawma'ah District, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.207644, 45.815614 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike reportedly killed two alleged AQAP militants in Al Sawma’ah district, Bayda governorate, on the evening of April 7th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Several sources – for example Yemen Live News – reported that the alleged militants were killed while travelling on a motorbike in the area. Local security sources told AFP that the strike took place in the evening on April 7th; most sources, though posted on April 8th, did not specify a date.

However, one source, @demolinari, indicated that a strike in the area, which reportedly killed two militants, took place on the afternoon of April 8th. A separate single-source event has been created to account for the possibility that this constituted a unique event.

The incident occured in the evening.

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck within the Al Sawma’ah district (مديرية الصومعة), for which due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Sawma’ah district are: 14.207644, 45.815614.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck within the Al Sawma’ah district (مديرية الصومعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr069

Incident date

April 5, 2017

Location

وادي الصنيف, Wadi Al Sanif, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.420207, 46.071511 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

US drone and naval strikes reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants in Wadi Al Sanif, in the Al Maraqisha area of Abyan governorate, late on April 5th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Several sources, including AFP, reported that a US drone strike killed a local AQAP leader, Ahmed Ali Saana, while he crossed a bridge on a motorbike in Al Sanif.  According to Aden Lang, an anonymous Yemeni security official said that the strike took place on the night of April 5th.

Sources also reported that a US warship launched strikes in the same area, though the timing of the bombardment was unclear. There were no known reports of any casualties from the naval fire.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a motorcycle being struck on a bridge crossing Wadi Al Sanif (وادي الصنيف), for which the exact coordinates are: 13.420207, 46.071511.

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, Naval bombardment
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr070

Incident date

April 5–6, 2017

Location

مديرية الصومعة, Al Sawma'ah District, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.207644, 45.815614 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike reportedly killed alleged AQAP militant Khattab al-Wuhayshi and possibly his bodyguard in Mar’taa, in the Suma’a district of Bayda governorate, overnight from April 5th to April 6th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Multiple sources, including AFP, reported that Khattab al-Wuhayshi was killed while riding a motorbike in the area, and that he was the nephew of AQAP leader Nasir al-Wuhayshi, who was also killed in a US drone strike in June 2015.

According to Xinhua, an anonymous security source indicated that the strike also killed a second AQAP militant, the bodyguard of al-Wuhayshi, though no other sources reported this.

This reported event took place amid a dramatic intensification of US operations against AQAP, beginning in early March 2017.  On April 3rd, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said that, since February 28th 2017, 70 US airstrikes were conducted in Yemen.

The incident occured during the night.

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Khattab al-Wuhayshi, an alleged AQAP militant, was reportedly killed by a US drone strike while travelling on a motorbike in Suma'a (@Dr_E_Kendall, April 6th 2017)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Marta’a  (مرتعه), within the Al Sawma’ah district (مديرية الصومعة), for which due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Sawma’ah district are: 14.207644, 45.815614.

  • Reports of the incident mention the village of Marta’a  (مرتعه), within the Al Sawma’ah district (مديرية الصومعة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2

Sources (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr066

Incident date

April 2–3, 2017

Location

الأدوس, Al Adwas, Hadramout, Yemen

Geolocation

14.846981, 49.159258 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants travelling in a car near Al-Adwas, Hadramout governorate, likely overnight from April 2nd to April 3rd. There are no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Several sources including YN News reported that AQAP militants were targeted, and one specified that they were targeted while in a car. No known sources mentioned numbers of militant casualties, if any, due to the strike.

No sources specified the time at which the strike took place, though almost all were published early on April 3rd 2017, indicating that the strike likely took place overnight from April 2nd to 3rd.

This reported event took place amid a dramatic intensification of US operations against AQAP in March 2017. On April 3rd 2017, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said that, since February 28th 2017, 70 US airstrikes were conducted in Yemen.

The incident was first reported on April 3, 2017 at 2:14 am by @saleh_binali.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Al Adwas (الأدوس) village, at a location west of Aqabat Abdullah Gharib (عبدالله غريب) and north of Mukalla (المكلا) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Aqabat Abdullah Gharib are: 14.846981, 49.159258.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes over eastern Yemen during the weekend, targeting the sites of extremist group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, director of Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.

“We continue to target [al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula] in Yemen, and this is done in the interest of disrupting a terror organization that presents a very significant threat to the United States,” Davis said.

Strikes Target Terrorists

During the weekend in Yemen’s Shabwah governorate, the precision airstrikes targeted al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists, as well as the terrorists’ infrastructure, fighting positions and equipment, the spokesman said.

The airstrikes follow the late-January U.S. raid in Yemen during which a U.S. service member died. From Feb. 28 through last week, some 50 airstrikes were conducted, Davis noted.

The weekend airstrikes, which were largely unmanned, bring the total to 70, he said.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr067

Incident date

April 2–3, 2017

Location

موجان, Mojan, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.425116, 46.171369 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

US airstrikes reportedly targeted alleged AQAP camps in the Mogan area of Al Maraqisha, Abyan governorate, overnight from April 2nd to April 3rd 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm, or of belligerent casualties.

According to Aden al-Ghad, a warplane launched several missiles at various locations in the area. Some sources such as Yemenat instead claimed that the strikes had been carried out by a drone.

This reported event took place amid a dramatic intensification of US operations against AQAP, beginning in March 2017. On April 3rd, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis said that, since February 28th 2017, 70 US airstrikes were conducted in Yemen.

The incident occured during the night.

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mojan (موجان), for which the coordinates are: 13.425116, 46.171369. 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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes over eastern Yemen during the weekend, targeting the sites of extremist group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, director of Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.

“We continue to target [al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula] in Yemen, and this is done in the interest of disrupting a terror organization that presents a very significant threat to the United States,” Davis said.

Strikes Target Terrorists

During the weekend in Yemen’s Shabwah governorate, the precision airstrikes targeted al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists, as well as the terrorists’ infrastructure, fighting positions and equipment, the spokesman said.

The airstrikes follow the late-January U.S. raid in Yemen during which a U.S. service member died. From Feb. 28 through last week, some 50 airstrikes were conducted, Davis noted.

The weekend airstrikes, which were largely unmanned, bring the total to 70, he said.

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (11) [ collapse]