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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Incident Code

USYEM135-C

Incident date

November 7, 2012

Location

السرين, Sirin, Sana'a, Yemen

Geolocation

15.1136330, 44.3675950 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged US drone strike killed two to four people, including one civilian (child) and two to three Al Qaeda militants from the AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) branch, and injured one to three other militants in Beit Al Ahmar in the town of Sanhan in the Sana’a Governorate on the November 7th, 2012 in the evening.

Mareb Press reported that a child related to Al Qaeda was killed in the attack. No further information about him is known. Fox news provided the lowest estimate of people killed at two. Xinhua, AntiWar, and @AlMazadeenNews alleged that three people were killed in the strike. Adnan al-Qadhi, Radwan al-Hashidi, and Rabiee Lahib were reportedly the victims of this incident. Alternatively, Mareb Press reported that a child related to al-Qadhi was killed in the attack and that Rabiee Lahib was injured, not killed. Therefore, the highest possible death toll including the child and Rabiee Lahib added up to four deaths in total.

Adnan al-Qadhi’s death was confirmed by his brother to Human Rights Watch and the family confirmed it to Abdulrazzak al-Jamal, an expert of Islamic group affairs who spoke with Xinhua. Al-Qadhi was reportedly an Al Qaeda commander who was wanted for bombing the U.S. embassy in Sana’a in 2008. He also served for over two decades in the First Armored Division of Yemen and fought in Afghanistan. According to Anchorage Daily News, his home was fitted with Al Qaeda’s signature black flag that flew on a distinct mural outside of his home, which dispelled certain doubts about his affiliation to AQAP. The strike allegedly occurred at 6:45pm in the evening while Adnan al-Qadhi leaned out of his car to take a phone call from his wife. His last word was reportedly ‘Marhaba’ meaning Hello in Arabic.

Family members of al-Qadhi told McClathy Newspapers that al-Qadhi had already been arrested and released in 2008 after the embassy attack and wondered why he hadn’t been taken into custody alive rather than being killed. “He may have supported Al Qaeda, but he wasn’t taking part in activities,” said Abdulrazzaq Jamal, a Yemeni journalist and analyst who met with Qadhi shortly before his death. “There were connections, but there wasn’t perceptible tangible support.” “We could have made sure he turned himself in,” said Himyar al Qadhi, Adnan’s brother. “If Adnan was guilty of any crime, then arrest him, put him on trial.”

Radwan al-Hashidi, al-Qadhi’s bodyguard, was standing outside of the car when he “was hit by metal fragments in his mouth” and died upon arriving at the hospital. Arafat Ali Mawsa reportedly heard the explosion while returning from a wedding and attempted to drive al-Hashidi to the hospital while he was “still talking.”

There are no further details about Rabiee Lahib’s death except that he was also allegedly a bodyguard of al-Qadhi. However, Human Rights Watch reported that he missed the strike and was killed in another which occurred two months later. The information remains unclear.

In terms of those injured, Human Rights Watch offered the lowest number with one injured  whereas Big Think and Mareb Press reported that three were injured including Rabiee Lahib. No further information is available. As mentioned above, it is unsure whether Rabiee Lahib was killed or injured in the incident.

The strike was allegedly from a US drone rather than a Yemeni warplane as the timing, after dark, and its precise nature make it unlikely to be Yemeni as they have previously said that Yemen did not have the capacity to undertake precision strikes or fly after dark. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch confirmed that the missiles were Hellfire missiles that were consistent with drone strikes. An official from Al-Daylami Air Force Base in Sana’a confirmed that the strike could not be carried out by a Yemeni warplane. This incident occurred the day after Barack Obama’s re-election.

A video was released from Ansar al Sharia, a branch of AQAP, showing a ‘confession’ by a father, Hafizallah al-Kulaibi, of being a drone spy and the role of his son, Barq al-Kulaibi, who was 8 years old, in planting chips on Adnan al-Qadhi to be tracked by a drone. The video ended stating that ‘every filmed spy is killed after he has been filmed.’The father reported that he was offered 50,000 Yemeni rial, the equivalent of 233$, to make his son plant missile guiding chips on al-Qadhi.

The drone strike was carried out in Beit Al Ahmar, in the Sanhan region, 15 kilometers southeast of Sana’a. The area is home to the former President Saleh. Adam Baron, a Yemen-based freelance journalist, noted that an elementary school was not far from the location of the strike.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–3

Sources (59) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted a vehicle on a dirt road in the village of Al Sirin (السرين), ‘hundreds of meters away’ from the village Beit Al Ahmar (بيت الأحمر), birthplace of former Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Journalist Adam Baron, who reported on the incident, posted a photograph on twitter of Saleh’s compound (Fort Afash) and stated that it was 2 minutes away from the site of the strike, and that it could be seen from that location. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the precise location of the strike. The coordinates for the village of Al Sirin (السرين) are: 15.1136330, 44.3675950.

  • Sirin (السرين), just south of Beit Al Ahmar (بيت الأحمر)

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Photo taken by Adam Baron of Saleh's compound in Beit Al Ahmar (2 minutes away from the strike location)

    Imagery:
    Adam Baron

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
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–3

Sources (59) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM084-B

Incident date

May 10–20, 2012

Location

جعار, Ja'ar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.223161, 45.305486 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An airstrike hit Jaar in mid-May of 2012, killing five Al Qaeda militants. The strike hit a house local people said was being rented by Ansar al Sharia militants. Neighbour Adnan Ahmed Saleh told NPR: ‘I got back inside, closed the door, and then the first rocket hit’. The house next door to his was destroyed. The next day AQAP-linked militants ‘cleaned up the mess’ and ‘paid compensation for the house.’

NPR was not able to identify who was responsible for the strike but added that it sounded like a US airstrike or drone strike.

The incident occured in the morning.

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
    5

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that the airstrike targeted a house in the town of Ja’ar (جعار), in the Abyan (أبين‎) governorate. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the town of Ja’ar (جعار) are: 13.223161, 45.305486.

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
    5

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM025-B

Incident date

July 29, 2011

Location

زنجبار, Zinjibar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.131375, 45.384415 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and 14 militants were killed and 50 others were wounded in alleged US or Yemeni airstrikes or drone strikes on the city of Zinjibar on July 29, 2011.

In a tweet from @YusraAIA, Yemeni aircraft were identified as being used as “camouflage” to cover up U.S. drone strikes. According to @FADHLESAY, fourteen people were killed and another fifty wounded by a series of bombings from Yemeni warplanes in Zinjibar. Militants who had gained control of the town were the reported targets.

Ma’reb Press reported that the Yemeni air force bombed areas known for “tribal gatherings” heading towards Zanjibar. In the fighting, five members of the Yemen military, including Colonel Muhammad al-Salahi, were killed along with an equal number of Al Qaeda operatives. There had been a series of clashes between the Yemeni military and Al Qaeda operatives. The military actions taken by the Yemeni military were reportedly done with either the support of or coordination with the United States and @YusraAIA directly mentions US involvement.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    5–14
  • Belligerents reported injured
    50

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Zinjibar (زنجبار), for which the generic coordinates are: 13.131375, 45.384415. 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    5–14
  • Belligerents reported injured
    50

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM014-B

Incident date

May 5, 2011

Location

شبوة‎, Shabwa province, Shabwa, Yemen

Geolocation

14.723675, 46.795827 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three middle-ranking Al Qaeda affiliates were killed and another was injured due to a US drone strike, originally targeting US-born cleric Anwar al Awlaki in the province of Shabwa in the morning of May 5th, 2011.

In one of the first recorded US attack using remotely piloted drones since 2002, during Yemen’s Arab Spring uprising, an attempt was made to kill US-born cleric Anwar al Awlaki in a coordinated tripartite drone strike. Instead two AQAP-linked brothers died, identified by Yemeni government officials as Abdullah Mubarak and Mosaad Mubarak (or al Harad). Mareb Press added that “there is a third injured person, and no information is available about his health status” while @NatSecCNN tweeted that “US drone struck target in southern #Yemen in last 48 hrs, killing 3 [Al Qaeda] operatives affil’d w/ al Alwaki, US defense official says”.

ABC News featured a special investigation on the attack, stating that on the morning of May 5, ‘the US military dispatched a fearsome array of heavily armed warplanes including Marine Harrier jets, predator drones and a special operations aircraft carrying short range Griffin missiles to follow a pickup truck in which Awlaki was a passenger’. But the US troops were unable to keep missiles locked on Awlaki’s truck. One missile grazed his bumper, then, ‘the Harriers, which were almost out of gas, had to leave. The remaining aircraft tried to keep following Awlaki to take another shot. But then cloud cover got in the way. Awlaki was able to exploit a moment of hesitation while the targeting pods and the surveillance aircraft were refocusing to jump out of his pickup truck and move to another.’ Awlaki later mocked the failed attack in AQAP’s English-language jihadist magazine Inspire, saying ‘It looks as if someone was a bit angry with us this evening.’

The Wall Street Journal offered more detail on the assault, which it said consisted of two elements: According to local residents and the Yemeni security officials, the first failed strike, which included three rockets targeted a pickup truck in which Mr Awlaki and a Saudi national and suspected Al Qaeda member were traveling. It was alleged that the attack took place 20 miles away from the provincial capital of Shebwa.

Two Yemeni Mubarak brothers rushed to the location of the attack and Awlaki switched vehicles with the brothers, leaving the two Yemenis in the pickup truck that had been targeted before. A single drone then hit the pickup truck, killing the Yemenis inside. Mr. Awlaki escaped in the other vehicle along with the Saudi.’ Mr. Awlaki is considered to be at the forefront of threats the US faces by US officials, as Alwatanvoice stated.

The New York times reported that the Yemeni defence ministry described the two men as dangerous and accused them of involvement in bomb attacks. Furthermore it was stated that the two brothers were being pursued by Yemeni security forces seeking to arrest the two men.

Information on who carried out the strikes varies, as Arabnews reports that the Yemeni government claims the two men were killed by Yemeni security forces, contradicting a statement published in the Wall Street Journal that quotes a senior security official claiming that the Yemeni government provided the US authorities with crucial information on Awlakis whereabouts days before the alleged attack.

However Reuters Washington stipulated that a US official told CBS that the US hoped it was Awlaki, but further comments or confirmation were declined by the US Defense Department.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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
    2–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports mention that the incident took place outside the village of Jahwa, 20 miles from the Shabwa provincial capital of Ataq. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available, we were unable to locate the village. The coordinates for Shabwa province are: 14.723675, 46.795827.

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
    0
  • 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
    2–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM060-B

Incident date

April 14, 2012

Location

الزاهر, Zahir district, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

13.95865, 45.419055 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Yemen defense officials announced that an alleged American unmanned drone allegedly struck a car that included a number of Ansar al Sharia and Al Qaeda members in the al Zahir district of Bayda province on April 14, 2012, killing between three and eight militants. The nighttime raid turned the car into a “collection of charred bodies” according to one witness, but there have been no reports of any civilian deaths.

Initial reports on Twitter, including @AidenLang, @marebpress, and @akbidaweb, noted that the airstrike hit a car with Al Qaeda militants on board. There were initial discrepancies concerning the number of dead, with @albidaweb noting five dead and @YamaanNA reporting eight people killed. Sky News Arabia later reported that two Yemeni military officials released a statement saying that seven Al Qaeda members were killed by a US drone. Yemen Press reported a detailed depiction of the targeting of the vehicle which included the killing of Abu Hamza Al-Sabri, also known as Abu Hamza. In a summary of the strike, Yemen Press reports described him as “one of the most prominent leaders of Al Qaeda in [the] Al-Bayda governorate”. However, al-Arabiya.net initially reported that “at least three’ militants had been killed, quoting a Ministry of Defense statement, which also included the reiteration of Yemeni military protocol that only its aircraft conduct such strikes. Reuters from England was the first to reference Ansar al Sharia, a smaller terror cell associated with Al Qaeda, but also reported that three militants were killed when their vehicle was struck. The New Times out of Rwanda reported that five Al Qaeda operatives were killed in the strike, adding to the continued inconsistency of the number of dead.

Ansar al Sharia later said that three of its fighters had died in a US drone strike.

The Associated Press released a more detailed account of the strike, saying that “seven suspected Al Qaeda members” were killed by an unmanned U.S. drone. The AP report included a statement from the Yemeni Ministry of Defense that stated that a jet fired a missile at “a vehicle carrying Al-Qaeda members, destroying it and the people inside”. One witness, Abdel-Salam Al-Ansi, described the car as a “ball of fire” following the missile strike.

Associated Press cited two Yemen military officials as saying that US drones had carried out the attack in Bayda province, with a security official telling AFP the same. Yemen’s air force reportedly lacked the ability to launch precision strikes on moving vehicles.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • 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
    3–8

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that a moving vehicle was targeted in the Az Zahir (الزاهر) district of the governorate Al Bayda (ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎). The generic coordinates for the Az Zahir (الزاهر) district are: 13.95865, 45.419055. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • The Az Zahir (الزاهر) district of the governorate Al Bayda (ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎)

    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
    0
  • 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
    3–8

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM107-B

Incident date

June 19, 2012

Location

يافع, Yafa'a district, Lahij, Yemen

Geolocation

13.889702, 45.24876 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three militants were killed when a vehicle was destroyed in Yafa’a district south of Bayda province by alleged Yemeni or US airstrikes on June 19, 2012, local and international media reported. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm.

According to reporting from Reuters, Yemeni state news (Saba) reported that on June 19th, Yemeni forces killed Salah al-Jawhari, a suspected Al Qaeda militant accused of directing suicide bombers for the terror group, while residents in the Yafa’a District reported that a drone specifically targeted a car that included al-Jawhari and two others.

Kuna.net and Yemen Times corroborated the locals’ story with a report noting that a car with three suspected terrorists was struck by Yemeni forces. Saba quoted one Yemeni military official speaking anonymously as saying that al-Jawhari and his two accomplices were “suicide bombers who were preparing to target military and security commanders in Bayda”, and the same military official believed that al-Jawhari was “in charge of Al Qaeda suicide cells in both Sanaa and Bayda”. The Yemen Times also reported that al-Jawhari was on Yemen’s most wanted terror list for over three years before being killed on June 19th. The same report acknowledged that al-Jawhari was also not the sole target, although no names or additional information was offered about the two other suspected militants who were killed.

According to Yemenfox.net, Yemeni military officials confirmed that security forces killed Salah al-Jawhari. Contrasting this report were residents who stated that an American drone was responsible for striking and destroying the car in which al-Jawhari and two others, who were later described by Yemeni security officials as al-Jawhari’s “guards,” were traveling. The same report from Yemenfox.net credited local witnesses as stating that the U.S. drone fired four missiles at the car. While all Yemeni security officials described al-Jawhari as an Al Qaeda operative, almithaq.net noted that the suspected militant was the leader of Al Qaeda in the Yafa’a region.

On the same day of the strike, US CENTCOM commander General James Mattis, visiting Sanaa, was reported by the US Embassy to have discussed “ways that the United States can cooperate with the Yemeni military to fight the mutual threat of Al Qaeda.”

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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
    3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image reportedly of Salah al-Jawhari, killed by alleged US or Yemeni airstrikes on June 19, 2012. (Image posted by Yemen Fox)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Badya province (ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎) and the Yafea or Yafa’a (يافع) district. There is no Yafa’a (يافع) district in the Bayda province, however, there is a Yafa’a (يافع) district just south of Bayda city, in the Lahij province, for which the generic coordinates are: 13.889702, 45.24876. Due to limited information and satellite imagery 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, Drone Strike
  • 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
    3

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr096-C

Incident date

August 13, 2017

Location

المرون , بالقرب من الخبر, Al Maroun, in the vicinity of Al Khabr, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.434036, 46.166267 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, US Central Command stated that a strike was conducted against AQAP in Abyan governorate on August 13th 2017, confirming multiple earlier reports that at least two alleged AQAP militants were killed in at least one afternoon US drone strike in Al Maroun, in the Khabr Maraqisha area of Abyan governorate.

However several sources, including Mwatana, insisted the victims were civilians.

While most sources reported at the time that two AQAP militants were killed in the strike, one (@demolinari) suggested that “some locals” had claimed that neither were members of AQAP, raising the possibility of civilian harm, but noted that “some pro-AQAP channels suggest otherwise”. The same source also tweeted a photo of the dead, naming one as Abu Aseed Al-Marqashi, who was however apparently pictured as an active AQAP militant in Mukalla during “the 2015-16 period”.

Several other sources named the two dead as Khidr Saeed Al-Dahl, possibly also known as Al-Zuhal, and Nasser Bin Jarada.

Some suggested that more than two alleged militants were killed in the strike.  According to Xinhua, a Yemeni security source said that “about three wanted al-Qaida elements” were killed after two missiles were fired by a US drone. One local language Twitter source suggested that there were “reports of dozens” of militants killed in the Al-Maroun area. However this is not supported by any other source.

Sources differed on the exact circumstances of the strike. Some suggested that the attack killed two men while they stood next to a water well, while others reported that a vehicle, either a car or a motorcycle, was targeted in the area. One alleged photo of the scene showed a destroyed car. According to Mwatana, the victims “were sitting under a nearby tree when the strike occurred.” Sources reported that the strike took place between 3.30pm and 4pm.

Though most sources attributed the strike to the US, one source suggested that strikes were carried out by the UAE.  Since the US Central Command later confirmed a strike in the area, Airwars has not assessed this strike as Contested.

Xinhua reported that, according to local sources, two other strikes targeted alleged AQAP militants in the same area and time period. According to these sources, “two other hideouts of the al-Qaida group in the area were bombed in an earlier attack that took place at about 2pm local time”. It was not clear whether these were alleged US strikes and no additional details were provided. No other known sources reported these additional strikes.

According to Aden al-Ghad, “dozens” of families were displaced following the attack “for fear of indiscriminate shelling”.

In an email to the Bureau, US Central Command said at the time that it was still assessing the results of the strike.

In its May 2018 annual civilian casualty report, the US Department of Defense stated that “there were credible reports of civilian casualties caused by U.S. military actions in Yemen against AQAP and ISIS during 2017”, but did not specify which specific actions these reports referred to.  Overall, the Department of Defense assessed that there were credible reports of “approximately 499 civilians killed and approximately 169 civilians injured during 2017”, as a result of US military actions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen.

Responding to Airwars’ publication of its Yemen dataset and accompanying report in October 2020, CENTCOM dismissed all but two civilian harm claims under President Trump, asserting that “USCENTCOM conducted a thorough review of the information AirWars provided regarding allegations of potential civilian harm caused by USCENTCOM strikes in Yemen from 2017-2020… The bulk of the information asserted by AirWars, however, did not correspond with dates and locations of U.S. military strikes or raids in Yemen.   Other AirWars allegations either did not allege civilian harm or were not assessed as credible upon our review.”

In March 2021, in its report death Falling From The Sky, the Yemeni human rights group Mwatana insisted those killed were civilian beekeepers, who looked after approximately 80 hives near the village of Mroun. The men were buried in Hosn Saiid Cemetery, about 7km from their homes. Mwatana insisted that it could find “no credible indication that either El Khodor or Ali were directly participating in hostilities with AQAP or IS-Y, or that they were associated with these groups.”

The area sheikh told the human rights group: ““I have been sheikh to this village for 17 years and I knew those boys who died in the incident. They were two of the finest youth of our village.”

The incident occured between 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

El Khodor Ali Saiid Jaradah
20 years old male Civilian beekeeper or alleged AQAP militant killed
Ali Haidra Saiid Jaradah
19 years old male Civilian beekeeper or alleged AQAP militant killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Several sources suggested that the strike targeted a vehicle travelling in Al-Maroun, Khabr Maraqisha area (@AwdMohmmed, August 13th 2017). However Mwata's March 2021 report suggests this vehicle was not connected to this event.
  • According to several sources, two alleged militants were killed in a US drone strike on August 13th 2017 (@demolinari, August 13th 2017)
  • One of those reportedly killed, named as "Abu Aseed Al-Marqashi", reportedly pictured as an AQAP fighter in Mukalla during the "2015-16 period" (@demolinari, August 16th 2017).
  • Weapon remnants found after the attack, which a weapons expert identified as likely parts of an AGM-114 Hellfire missile. Photo taken by a Mwatana researcher.
  • Weapon remnants found after the attack, which a weapons expert identified as likely parts of an AGM-114 Hellfire missile. Photo taken by a Mwatana researcher.
  • The mattress both men were sitting on before the strike, found at the site of the August 13, 2017 strike. Photo taken by a Mwatana field researcher.
  • Debris found at the site of the August 13, 2017 strike. Photo taken by a Mwatana field researcher.
  • The tree where the two men were sitting immediately before the August 13, 2017 strike. Photo taken by a Mwatana field researcher.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Al Maroun (المرون) area, allegedly in vicinity of Al Khabr (الخبر), south of the Al Maraqisha mountains (جبل المراقشه). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Khabr are: 13.434036, 46.166267.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Nov 5, 2020

  • Via email: U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) continues to focus on ways to minimize civilian casualties during its military operations. We assess or review all reports of civilian casualties because such assessments or reviews help us identify ways to improve our operations and counter misinformation and propaganda. We routinely share the results of every one of our assessments in Department of Defense (DoD) reports to Congress, including annual reports, many of which are publicly available. We also share the results of our assessments or reviews with the public via the USCENTCOM website and our statements to the media. Individuals wishing to understand U.S. military operations in Yemen more fully should consult these official sources of information. USCENTCOM conducted a thorough review of the information AirWars provided regarding allegations of potential civilian harm caused by USCENTCOM strikes in Yemen from 2017-2020. Of the information AirWars provided, one strike on September 14, 2017, was assessed to have caused injuries to two civilians. Also, as previously released by USCENTCOM to the public in February 2017, USCENTCOM acknowledged there may have been civilian casualties during a raid on January 29, 2017. The bulk of the information asserted by AirWars, however, did not correspond with dates and locations of U.S. military strikes or raids in Yemen. Other AirWars allegations either did not allege civilian harm or were not assessed as credible upon our review. Consistent with our mission, our authorities, and our obligations under the law of war, USCENTCOM will continue to conduct military actions in Yemen when required to protect the Nation and our allies and partners from al Qa’ida and ISIS terror cells that are committed to inflicting terror. In every strike and raid, we take careful measures to minimize civilian harm and take responsibility for our actions. When our military operations result in reports of civilian harm, we will continue to assess the credibility of such reports to help us identify ways to improve our operations and respond as appropriate.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Other
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (37) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM072-B

Incident date

May 2, 2012

Location

جعار, North of the town Ja'ar, Khanfir district, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.2612, 45.29879 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 10 and 15 militants linked to Al Qaeda were killed in an alleged Yemeni airstrike or US drone strike just north of the town of Jaar on the 2nd of May, 2012.

Whilst Xinhua stated a local resident had claimed that 10 militants in total had been killed in the airstrike, CNN reported that ‘local security officials’ had stated that 13 suspected militants died in the attack. The Associated Press (AP), in addition to other local sources, claimed the number to be fifteen. Similarly, Itijah made reference to a report by the BBC in which “army officials” were quoted as saying that 15 militants had been killed.

Al-Masdar Online and Itijah both reported that the airstrike was conducted against locations where Al Qaeda militants had been preparing trenches. Al-Masdar Online further stated that these positions were specifically located in the Masnaa area, whilst also citing the BBC report which said that the airstrike had been conducted against a militant “training camp”.

Although the deployment of drones in this airstrike cannot be confirmed, a report by the Associated Press (AP), stated that the airstrike “resembled earlier US drone attacks, but the US did not comment.” Yemen Voice News also reported that “security officials” had said that “a US drone bombed a training site belonging to Al Qaeda in southern Yemen, killing 13 people believed to be militants.” Despite the indications of the involvement of US drones, Xinhua quoted a local resident in Jaar who claimed that the Yemen Air Force (YAF) had carried out the attack.

On the 2nd of May, the day of the airstrike, Xinhua further stated that fierce fighting had erupted in the area after Al Qaeda militants attacked a checkpoint manned by “pro-government tribesmen” referred to by Al-Masdar Online and Itijah as the ‘Popular Committees’. Al-Masdar Online also stated that this checkpoint was specifically located within the area of Shoht, to the north of Jaar.

A Yemeni presidential aide, quoted by CNN and Yemen Voice News, acknowledged that at least two US aircraft had been carrying out “attacks daily since mid-April in southern areas controlled by Al Qaeda fighters.” He went on to say that this was part of a strategy to remove al-Qaeda’s roots in the areas it controlled.

Whilst there were no reports of civilians killed or injured in the airstrike, Associated Press (AP) reported that the al-Qaeda “training camp” which had been hit was set up around an abandoned munitions factory. The factory later “exploded killing at least 100 people. The blast was ignited when impoverished townspeople entered the factory in the aftermath (of the airstrike) to try and haul away anything of value that remained.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    10–15

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that a militant’s camp was targeted north of the town of Ja’ar (جعار), in the governorate of Abyan (أبين‎). The coordinates for the area north of the town of Ja’ar (جعار) are: 13.261200, 45.298790. Due to limited information and satellite imagery 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
    10–15

Sources (16) [ collapse]