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
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Strike Status
Strike Type
Infrastructure

Incident Code

USYEMTr020

Incident date

March 2, 2017

Location

جعار, Ja'ar, Bayda', Yemen

Geolocation

14.25000, 45.83333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that several US airstrikes targeted alleged AQAP militants in the Sama’a district of Bayda governorate at dawn on March 2nd 2017. There were no reports on any casualties.

Several sources suggested that more than thirty airstrikes took place.  According to al-Ain, the strikes were conducted by American F-16 jets and helicopters, while other sources claimed that strikes were also conducted by drones. Several sources indicated that these raids focused on Wadi Saeed, Ja’ar district of Sama’a, as well as the ‘Khishna’ area.

One local source, speaking with Russia Today Arabic, indicated that the strikes were distributed across the Saeed district of Sama’a, “as well as several other mountain sites near the Directorate’s cemetery”. According to Akhbar al-Youm, strikes persisted from 2am until 5am, targeting areas “near the new hospital” and “the cemetery”, as well as “the Industrial Technical Institute”.

Local language social media sources indicated that the raids killed a donkey, but that there were no casualties or injuries.  According to Al-Ain, casualties were avoided as residents dispersed “as soon as they heard the flight of the aircraft in the area”.  Though most sources assigned responsibility to US forces, one local language source indicated that the airstrikes were “coalition”, likely referring to the Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting the Houthis.

This reported event allegedly took place amid a dramatic intensification of US operations against AQAP. On March 2nd, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davies announced “more than 20 strikes targeted AQAP militants, equipment and infrastructure in the Yemeni governorates of Abyan, Al Bayda and Shabwah” early that morning. On March 3rd, the Associated Press reported that Yemeni officials and residents said that the US had conducted “dozens of airstrikes on al-Qaida targets in Yemen overnight and in the past 48 hours in one of the lengthiest, sustained operations inside this conflict-torn Arab country”.

A US military intelligence source told NBC News that the strikes were “part of ‘new directives’ to aggressively pursue the Dhahab and Qayfa clans”.

The incident occured between 2:00 am and 5:00 am local time.

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 (28) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ja’ar (جعار) located within As Sawma’ah district (مديرية الصومعة), for which the coordinates are: 14.25000, 45.83333. 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

U.S. forces conducted a series of precision strikes in Yemen against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, in the early morning of March 2 (Yemen time). More than 20 strikes targeted AQAP militants, equipment and infrastructure in the Yemeni governorates of Abyan, Al Bayda and Shabwah.

The strikes were conducted in partnership with the Government of Yemen, and were coordinated with President Hadi. The Government of Yemen is a valuable counter-terrorism partner, and we support its efforts to bring stability to the region by fighting known terrorist organizations like AQAP.

The strikes will degrade the AQAP's ability to coordinate external terror attacks and limit their ability to use territory seized from the legitimate government of Yemen as a safe space for terror plotting. Targets of the strikes included militants, equipment, infrastructure, heavy weapons systems and fighting positions.

AQAP has taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Yemen to plot, direct, and inspire terror attacks against the United States and our allies. U.S. forces will continue to work with the Government of Yemen to defeat AQAP and deny it the ability to operate in Yemen.

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 (28) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr060

Incident date

March 31, 2017

Location

مديرية مودية, Al Bazqama and Riman area, Mudiyah District, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Reported US drone strikes targeted alleged AQAP militants in the Al Bazqama and Riman area of Mudiyah, Abyan governorate at dawn on March 31st 2017.  There were no known reports of civilian casualties, though some sources claimed that a civilian farm had been destroyed.

Alittihad reported that, according to a local source, three strikes took place, one of which targeted and killed AQAP militants, including a “field leader”, travelling in a car near a farm near Al Bazqama area. It was also reported that, according to local officials, the strike targeted AQAP training and “positioning” sites.

Local language sources, for example al Sharq, reported that a single AQAP operative was killed in a drone strike in the same Bazgama area – some said, while travelling in a vehicle. It was unclear whether this referred to the same strike against a vehicle reported by Alittihad.

Aden Now News suggested that US airstrike targeted a chicken farm, “used to manufacture improvised explosive devices and car bombs”, also in the Al Bazqama area, though other Twitter sources said that it was instead a civilian family farm. It is possible that this strike was the same as that which reportedly targeted AQAP militants near to a farm in Al Bazqama.

Airwars has assessed the minimum number of alleged belligerent casualties as two, drawing on the Alittihad report that plural militants were killed, and reflecting the possibility that the single reported AQAP militant death in a vehicle referred to the same strike. The maximum has been set at three, reflecting the possibility that these were discrete casualty incidents.

Assessments of the total number of strikes in the area varied.  One Twitter source reported that four US drone strikes took place in Mudiyah on that morning, targeting “suspected #AQAP militant sites and a vehicle”, while Alittihad suggested that three took place in Al Bazqamah and Riman.  Others suggested that two strikes targeted Al Bazqamah and Riman areas, with a third targeting Mudiyah city centre.

This strike allegedly 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, from February 28th to the final week of March, fifty US airstrikes were conducted in Yemen.

The incident occured around dawn.

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
    2–3

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Local sources reported the death of at least one alleged AQAP operative.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention farmland being struck in the Bazqama (بازقامة) and Riman (ريمان) area, within the Mudiyah (مودية) district, for which, due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the Mudiya district are: 13.904075, 46.233215.

  • Reports of the incident mention farmland being struck in the Bazqama (بازقامة) and Riman (ريمان) area, within the Mudiyah (مودية) district.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

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)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr133

Incident date

January 12, 2018

Location

ذي كالب , Dhi Kalib, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.555183, 44.882332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five alleged AQAP militants were killed in the course of at least four reported US drone strikes in Qayfa, Bayda governorate, on the evening of January 12th 2018.  According to local-language news sources, at least one strike targeted the area of Dhi Kalib village. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

A local official told Russia Today that four “raids” targeted AQAP militants in Dhi Kalib village. Local language sources including @almasdaronline and Akhbar Al-Aan also reported strikes in Dhi Kalib.

There were also reports of strikes in Jabal Novan, Al-Jassima and Hami Liqah areas of Qayfa on January 12th.  Unique events have been created separately to account for these reports.

Several sources indicated that strikes in Qayfa on the 12th resulted in a number of militant deaths and injuries. Locals reportedly told Al Yom Press that “the raids targeted a site for the militants as well as a car belonging to them, and resulted in deaths and injuries”. Two English-language sources, @demolinari and @switch_d, further named one of the dead as Jawas Ahmed. These reports are accounted for in event USYEMTr132.

In an email to the Long War Journal, a US Central Command spokesperson confirmed that a strike took place against AQAP in Bayda on January 12th. There were no known reports of strikes against AQAP beyond the vicinity of Qayfa on that day. This confirmation has been accounted for in event USYEMTr132, though it could have applied to any or all of the reported strikes in Qayfa, Bayda, on January 12th.

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)

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Alleged AQAP militant Jawas Ahmed was allegedly one of those killed by reported US strikes in Qayfa on January 12th (@demolinari, January 12th 2018)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dhi Kalib (ذي كالب ) for which the generic coordinates are: 14.555183, 44.882332. 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

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 (24) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr211

Incident date

September 2, 2019

Location

عقبة القنذع, Aqaba Al Qandha, Between Al Bayda and Shabwa, Yemen

Geolocation

14.680437, 45.594356 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three US drone strikes reportedly targeted a convoy of alleged AQAP militants travelling through Aqaba Al Qandha area of Shabwa governorate, on the morning of September 2nd 2019. No known sources gave information on casualties of the strikes, and there were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

“Private sources” told Shabwa Press that US drones had targeted the militants as they travelled to support pro-government military operations in Shabwa, destroying three cars. Shabwa Press noted that Aqaba al-Qandaa is a key route in the area, linking Beihan with Bayda governorate.

Three local language social media sources, including @alsalahi_fahad, later indicated that there were “charred bodies” in the cars. Identical phrasing in these sources, however, indicates that they reflected one original post. Given the report of multiple bodies, minimum reported deaths has been set at two.

On October 4th 2019, a US Central Command spokesperson told New America that no US military strikes had been conducted in Yemen since June 24th 2019. It is, however, possible that an undeclared strike was conducted by the CIA, or was part of a clandestine US military action.

The incident occured in the morning.

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 (31) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Aqaba Al Qandha (عقبة القنذع) area close to the borders of Shabwa (شبوة) and Al Bayda (البيضاء) governorates. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Aqaba Al Qandha are: 14.680437, 45.594356.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

On October 4, 2019, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) replied to an email inquiry from New America confirming that “the last strike conducted by CENTCOM in Yemen was 24 June.” Per that statement, there were no CENTCOM strikes in Yemen in September 2019.

The lack of strikes in September makes it more than three months since the last U.S. military counterterrorism strike in Yemen, according to New America’s research. However, it is possible that the United States has conducted covert non-military strikes, and in recent years there have been a small number of strikes attributed by media reports to the United States that CENTCOM has denied conducting

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 (31) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr092

Incident date

July 23, 2017

Location

جبل المراقشه, Jabal Al Maraqisha, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.561668, 46.134923 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that US airstrikes, or possibly US naval strikes, targeted alleged AQAP militants in the Al Maraqisha area of Abyan governorate, late on July 23rd 2017. Other sources reported similar strikes in the area the previous night, though did not assign responsibility to the US. There were no known reports of civilian harm.

Twitter user @demolinari, a usually reliable source, indicated on July 23rd that there were reports of US strikes in the area. Some, such as @drwaheepsaad and @Sbyhy1, specified that strikes targeted locations in Al-Maraqisha including Mogan, Husn Saeed, and Al-Maroun.

The latter source, @Sbyhy1, stated late on July 23rd that there was “news of deaths”. Given this, Airwars has assessed that at least two militants were reportedly killed in the alleged strikes.

Earlier sources from the previous night, also describing attacks in the same area, did not assign responsibility to the US. These sources further suggested that strikes targeted the Al-Waddi district of Abyan, from the direction of Al-Maraqisha, and one, @AdenNowNews, reported “hundreds of deaths”. Since these reports did not assign responsibility to the US, they are not accounted for in a unique event.

The incident occured during the night.

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
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention strikes in the Jabal Al Maraqisha (جبل المراقشه) area that includes the coastal portion to the south, allegedly targetting Mojan (موجان) at: 13.425116, 46.171369; Al Maroun (المرون), Malaj (املج), and Husn Said (حصن سعيد) at: 13.433773, 46.270462. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Jabal Al Maraqisha are: 13.561668, 46.134923.

  • Reports of the incident mention strikes in the Jabal Al Maraqisha (جبل المراقشه) area that includes the coastal portion to the south, allegedly targetting Mojan (موجان), Al Maroun (المرون), Malaj (املج), and Husn Said (حصن سعيد).

    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, 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
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM120-B

Incident date

August 10, 2012

Location

جعار, Jaar, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.217814, 45.307025 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An alleged US drone attack killed 3 Al Qaeda militants and injured “many” who were gathering in a farm on the outskirts of Jaar in Abyan Province on the 10th of August 2012 in the evening. There are no current reports of civilian harm.

The farm which is where the militants were supposedly meeting was said to belong to a jihadist leader named Khaled Abdel-Nabi according to Adengad who were told by local residents. It is unknown whether he was amongst those who died.

Press TV and other local sources identified three Al Qaeda militants as being killed, while Adengad and @morageeb reported that an unspecified number of militants were injured. Locals told Adengad that the bombing was specifically targeting the farm and that the “bombing was violent, which prompted the people of the city to sit in their homes for fear of harm”.

@BaFana3 reported that the strike took place at 7pm local time and Adengad noted that the “violent explosion” occurred after sunset prayer time, with @ionacraig pointing out that since the strike happened after dark, it was carried out by the US (due to their more advanced capabilities).

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jaar (جعار), for which the generic coordinates are: 13.217814, 45.307025. 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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    5–10

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM048-B

Incident date

March 10, 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

Alleged US airstrikes or Yemeni airstrikes in Jaar and Zinjibar on May 10, 2012 reportedly killed up to 24 alleged militants and nine others were injured, with some sources reporting possible civilian casualties. Although initially reported as the work of the Yemen Air Force, a senior Yemen government official told CNN that the attacks were carried out by the US, part of a three-day offensive.

On March 10th 2012, Aden Al-Ghad reported that a correspondent said that the strike hit the neighborhoods surrounding the Almaz Cotton Company. The source reported that the company’s property was being used by “armed groups” to hold “dozens of army soldiers” as prisoners.

The Long War Journal reported that the strike killed 20 in AQAP “hideouts.” According to Reuters, local residents in Jaar reported that the Yemeni air force carried out the strike, and that 20 Al Qaeda fighters were killed. The source reported that the strike impacted a military base previously seized by Al Qaeda from government forces. Al-Bayan reported that 20 were killed in the strikes, with “others wounded.” Local sources alleged that the strike was aimed at military vehicles captured by Al Qaeda. Yahoo News reported that a Yemeni military official said that nine militants were wounded in the strike.

On March 11th 2012 at 10:31am local time, journalist @ionacraig tweeted that a 13 year-old boy was killed in a “recent US drone strike” although it is unclear which strike this is referencing. According to Presstv and National Turk, “local residents rejected the government’s allegations and said that the victims were civilians.” However, this report was referencing three strikes from March 9-11, and did not specify which strike the residents’ claims referred to.

A tweet from @Shuaibalmosawa reported that according to AQAP sources in Abyan the airstrikes in Ja’ar did not hit anybody and instead struck nearby agricultural land.

On March 12th 2012, CNN reported that initially, Yemeni officials declared that the Yemeni air force was behind the strike. However, CNN also reported that a Yemeni official alleged that, since it occurred late in the day, the strike must have been the work of American drones. He claimed that Yemeni forces do not have the capability or training to enact strikes at that time of day.

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
    20–24
  • Belligerents reported injured
    9

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ja’ar (جعار) in the Abyan (أبين‎) governorate, for which the generic coordinates are: 13.223161, 45.305486. 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
    20–24
  • Belligerents reported injured
    9

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEM136-B

Incident date

December 24, 2012

Location

المناسح, Manaseh, Bayda', Yemen

Geolocation

14.579762, 44.750219 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two suspected Al Qaeda militants were killed and three were injured in an alleged US drone strike which hit a vehicle in Manaseh in al-Bayda province on December 24th, 2012 at 5pm. No civilian harm has been reported.

According to Reuters, AFP, and AP, two Al Qaeda militants were killed when a drone strike hit their vehicle. There were mixed reports about the identity of both victims. The first person killed was Abdel-Raoud Naseeb, a mid-level Al Qaeda operative who narrowly escaped the first recorded American drone strike in Yemen on November 3rd, 2002. His death was confirmed by his family to Reuters and AP. Naseeb had fled southern Lawdar wherein a US-backed military offensive was taking place earlier in 2012. However, AFP claimed the the militant was Abdullah Hussein al-Waeli, an Al Qaeda member from the province of Marib, who escaped prison two years prior.

Locals speaking to Reuters reported that the second victim was Jordanian. Xinhua reported that he was a Syrian national. @ali_alshami on Twitter claimed that his name was Nasser al-Sanea but no other sources corroborated this. Overall, tribal sources and news outlets reported three militants were injured in the strike with no further details.

The drone strike was allegedly an American Predator drone according to the Long War Journal. It was the first recorded US drone strike in seven weeks.

The incident occured at approximately 5:00 pm local time.

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
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (22) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted a vehicle near or in the village of Manaseh (المناسح) near the town Radda/Rada’a (رداع), in the Bayda’ province. The coordinates for the village of Manaseh (المناسح) are: 14.579762, 44.750219. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • The village of Manaseh (المناسح) near the town Radda/Rada’a (رداع) with roads marked in yellow

    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
    2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (22) [ collapse]