(Previous Incident Codes: YEM055USYEM062)

On 23rd April 2012, a suspected US drone strike at 4:10pm hit vehicles in Shabwa province allegedly leaving up to three militants dead and up to three others injured, according to local sources. The vehicles were reportedly traveling from Nisab to Al-Salida Abadan.

Yaspr and Almotamar identified two of the dead as Hussein al-Ahwal Lahoul and Ali Saeed Samal. Almotamar also identified one of the injured as Saud Ahmed Al-Hared. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm.

The strike reportedly occurred in the al-Sanda district near the Obeida valley as the car was traveling from Nisab to Al-Salida Abadan. A local named Mohammed Bindighar told Fox News that he had seen drones circling overhead almost daily for the last five months.

A local source in Shabwa claimed that the strike was conducted on a “box” car as it was heading from Nisab to Al-Salida Abadan. A correspondent from Al-Masdar Online reported that local sources testified that a U.S. aircraft bombed a “hilux double car” occupied by Al Qaeda operatives, killing two people but injuring three. According to Fox News, local officials said an U.S. drone killed three members of Al Qaeda in the strike. Likewise, Reuters reported that residents and officials said that the strike was carried out by a U.S. drone, killed three Al Qaeda operatives, and injured two. A few Twitter accounts also published this death toll.

While one source, the website Al-Mutamar identified Moroccan warplanes as being responsible for the strike, every other source alleged that U.S. drones were the perpetrators.