Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

RS4362

Incident date

January 26, 2020

Location

بزابور, Bazabour, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a woman and her husband, were killed and others were injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on the town of Bazabour in Idlib Governorate, Syria on January 26 th 2020.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said “Syrian regime killed a man & his wife in Bazabour village in Idlib: Majed Nour al Din Abdullah and his wife Amenah al Hassoun, were killed on January 26th, 2020, as Syrian regime forces’ helicopters dropped barrel bombs on Bazabour village in Jabal al Zaweya area in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate where one barrel bomb fell on their house in the village, while the Civil Defense team were evacuating them from the house to safer area.”

The Palestine News Network reported: “Russian warplanes bombed a civil defense vehicle that was transporting a displaced family in the village of Bazabur in the southern countryside of Idlib, which led to the killing of a man and his wife and the burning of the civil defense vehicle”.

Three of the sources reported that additional civilians had been injured.

Shaam said that Russian and Syrian regime warplanes and helicopters launched “dozens of airstrikes” targeting different areas of Idlib including Bazabour causing the death of the man and his wife.

SyrianCoalition said the strike occured in the morning but the Local Coordination Committees of Syria put the time stamp at 22:31. Other sources also described the strike as having taken place in the evening.

The incident occured at 22:31:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult male killed
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Majed Nour al Din Abdullah, who was killed alongside his wife in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Bazabour, Idlib Governorate on January 26th, 2020 (via SN4HR)
  • Destroyed building after an airstrike on Bazabour on January 26th, 2020 (via SN4HR)
  • An image of vehicle that was destroyed in an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike on the town of Bazabour, Idlib Governorate on January 26 th 2020. According to the Syrian Civil Defense, the vehicle was struck whilst evacuating a family from the town resulting in the deaths of up to three civilians. (Uploaded by the Syrian Civil Defense)
  • An image that was uploaded alongside a post about an alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrike that struck the town of Bazabour, Idlib Governorate on January 26 th 2020. (Uploaded by The Syrian Civil Defense)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4389

Incident date

February 1, 2020

Location

النباريز, , Al Nabariz, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed and up to 17 injured in a suspected Russian air or artillery strike on the village of Al Nabariz in southern Aleppo on February 1st, 2020.

Mohammed Hassan Al-Jassem, aged 22 was identified as the deceased by several local sources and Madin Al-Hussein, aged 33, was reportedly injured. Some sources, such as the Syrian Civil Defense, claimed that there had been 17 injured in Al Nabariz and the outskirts of Al-Bab city, without specifying how many had been injured exactly in each incident. Photographs and videos show the White Helmets rescue operation.

Several sources blamed Russian forces for the attack.

The victims were named as:

22 years old killed
33 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–17
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A rescue team carry the body of 22 year old, Mohammed Hassan Al-Jassem who was killed in alleged Russian airstrikes on Al Nabariz village on February 1st (via SCD Aleppo)
  • A photograph of the destruction at Al Nabariz following alleged Russian strikes on February 1st (via SCD Aleppo)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic photograph of Mohammed Hassan Al-Jassem who was killed in an alleged Russian airstrike on Al Nabariz village on February 1st (via SCD Aleppo)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The White Helmets at the scene in Al Nabariz following alleged Russian strikes on February 1st (via SCD Aleppo)
  • The interior of a building destroyed in a suspected Russian air or artillery strike on the village of Al Nabariz in southern Aleppo on February 1st, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defense).

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–17
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4388

Incident date

January 31, 2020

Location

سراقب, Saraqeb, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A Syria Civil Defense center in Saraqib, Idlib in Syria was put out of service allegedly because of Russian forces or Syrian regime  airstrikes that targeted it, injuring up to seven volunteers on January 31st, 2020, according to local sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that “fixed-wing warplanes we believe were Russian fired missiles on a building of Civil Defense (consists of headquarter of Saraqeb district and a Civil Defense center) in Saraqeb city in the eastern suburbs of Idlib governorate, injuring six members of Civil Defense, severely destroying its building and damaging its equipment on January 31st.”

Syrian Civil Defense said that “Our heroic #WhiteHelmets were keeping vigil at their center in #Saraqib sector in #Idlib when it was targeted by Russian airstrikes, rendering the centre out of service. Our six humanitarian workers were injured in the strike but recovering.”

Barrel bombs and vacuum missiles were launched upon the town of Saraqib according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. The first report of four wounded was later raised to seven, and all were volunteers for the Syrian Civil Defense Center.

In the town of Saraqib, the Syrian Network for Human rights detailed how Russian missiles struck the command building of the Syrian Civil Defense Center. The building was largely destroyed and much of the equipment ruined.

It was reported that Russian fixed wing jets dropped barrel bombs and vacuum missiles upon Saraqib with the support of pro-Assad forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • SCD volunteers got injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via @ShahbaPress).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via MMC).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via MMC).
    An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via MMC).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • An SCD volunteer injured in alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on their center in Saraqib on January 31st, 2020 (via SCD).
  • Image of the destruction of SCD Saraqib Center by alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on Jan 31st, 2020 (via SNHR)
  • One of the Civil Defense volunteers being treated for injuries from strikes on Saraqeb on January 31, 2020. (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • One of the Civil Defense volunteers being treated for injuries from strikes on Saraqeb on January 31, 2020. (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • One of the Civil Defense volunteers being treated for injuries from strikes on Saraqeb on January 31, 2020. (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • Civil Defense volunteers being treated for injuries from strikes on Saraqeb on January 31, 2020. (Image posted by @EyadHoms20)
  • Civil Defense volunteers whose headquarters was hit with airstrikes in Saraqeb on January 31, 2020. (Image posted by @MoslemSayedEs)
  • Civil Defense members after surviving a Russian bombing of their center in Saraqib on January 31, 2020. (Image posted by @fawaz_jwaid)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–7
  • 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.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI015

Incident date

April 6, 2018

Location

سدكان , Sedkan, North east of Erbil Province, KRG, Iraq

Geolocation

36.801389, 44.665 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish artillery strike on Sedkan, according to local sources.

Basnews reported that “on Friday [April 6th], Turkish artillery continued to bombard the area of ​​Bradust and its villages in Siddakan (northeast of Erbil), injuring two civilians and displacing about 120 others from their villages.

According to information received by Basnoyos, the Turkish army bombed dozens of villages in the region of Bradust and Sidkane district, where the inhabitants of six villages in the area evacuated their homes completely and were displaced to safer areas.”

Almaalomah also reported the injury of two civilians.

Shafaaq added that three members of the Peshermega were killed in a Turkish shelling. It named them as “Tahir Mohammed, Majid Mohammed and Ramadan Mohammed”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • According to the source, Shafaaq, the authorities found the bodies of Tahir Mohammed, Majid Mohammed and Ramadan Mohammed, fighters in the Peshmerga forces who were on official leave to work in beekeeping to help their families. Killed in suspected Turkish strikes on Sedkan, Erbil Province, April 6th (via Shafaaq)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sedkan ( سدكان ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.801389, 44.665. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS408

Incident date

February 3, 2020

Location

عقيبة, Aqiba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.437500, 36.968333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that Turkish forces targeted villages in Afrin including Aqiba village during the night, leading to the death of one elderly civilian, an the injury of other civilians including his daughter, on February 3rd, 2020.

NPA Syria reported that “a Syrian civilian was killed and a woman was injured due to the Turkish forces shelling on the village of Aqiba in Sherawa district, south of the Syrian-Kurdish region of Afrin.”, and that “67-year-old Ali Malla lost his life, and his daughter Zainab was wounded after their house was targeted by the Turkish military and its affiliated armed opposition groups’ bombardment on February 3rd, 2020.”

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

67 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish shelling on Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via Raperinagel9).
  • Aftermath of alleged Turkish shelling on villages in Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via NPASyria).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ali Malla, 67, was reported killed by alleged Turkish shelling on Aqiba village in Afrin, Syria on February 3rd, 2020 (via Rojavanetwork).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aqiba (عقيبة) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.437500, 36.968333. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

LC297

Incident date

February 13, 2020

Location

باب السلام, Bab Al Salam, Tripoli, Libya

Geolocation

32.842957, 13.171578 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reportedly injured by LNA shelling the Abu Salim neighbourhood of Tripoli.

Al Wasat said: “The Abu Salim Municipal Council announced that a house in the municipality of Bab Al-Salam in the municipality was destroyed by a shell.”

The council noted that there were no citizens in the house, except for a woman who was in good condition, according to his statement on his page on the social networking site Facebook today, Thursday.

He pointed out that the property of the owners of the house was destroyed, and the shrapnel fragments caused damage to the neighbouring buildings, whose walls were cracked by the accident, and cars were damaged by the people, accusing the General Command forces of being the source of the shell. It was not possible for ‘Al-Wasat Gate’ to confirm the authenticity of the news from an independent source.”

The GNA-led Burkan Al Ghadab operation, however, wrote that the woman was lightly injured by LNA shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Destruction caused by alleged LNA shelling on Abu Salim on February 13th, 2020 (via Al Wasat)
  • Building damaged by alleged LNA shelling on Abu Salim on February 13th, 2020 (via Al Wasat)
  • Destruction caused by alleged LNA shelling on Abu Salim on February 13th, 2020 (via Al Wasat)
  • Destruction caused by alleged LNA shelling on Abu Salim on February 13th, 2020 (via Al Wasat)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the Bab Al Salam (باب السلام) area, allegedly located within the neighbourhood of Abu Salim (ابوسليم), for which the generic coordinates are: 32.842957, 13.171578. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the neighbourhood of Abu Salim (أبو سليم).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Libyan National Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Libyan National Army
  • Libyan National Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Libyan National Army

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS2814

Incident date

December 25, 2017

Location

السميرية, Al-Samiria, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.892969, 37.31471 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that alleged Russian warplanes carried out multiple airstrikes in the town of Al-Samiria, Aleppo, wounding several civilians.

While the reports were sparse, all sources, however, identified Russia as the culprit.

However, only the Step News Agency made mention of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrikes that destroyed large parts ofAl-Samiria, Aleppo, on December 25th, 2017 (via EdlibEMC1)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrikes that destroyed large parts ofAl-Samiria, Aleppo, on December 25th, 2017 (via EdlibEMC1)
  • Aftermath of the alleged Russian airstrikes that destroyed large parts ofAl-Samiria, Aleppo, on December 25th, 2017 (via EdlibEMC1)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced being active in unspecified parts of Syria until December 11th, 2017.



Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

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]