(Previous Incident Codes: YEM057USYEM064)

Three suspected militants were killed in an alleged American drone strike in the town of Mudiyah during the afternoon of the 26th of April, 2012.

Both Reuters and Mareb Press reported that the three militants were killed as the vehicle in which they were travelling was struck by a missile. Reuters further reported that local residents said they “saw two pilotless drone aircraft after hearing an explosion.” Al-Madar Online stated that, according to local sources, the attack was made against a ‘Vitara’ car in the Wadi Farda region, “killing three suspected members of the Ansar al-Sharia group, affiliated with Al Qaeda”.

Mareb Press specifically stated that the attack had been carried out “in the Farida Valley” in Mudiyah.

Al-Masdar Online stated that local sources had reported a second airstrike, conducted within the Amqouz area of Mudiyah on the same day, however there were no reported casualties or injuries.

The drone strike which killed the three suspected militants was one of several conducted in the month of April, 2012 during which Yemeni troops had launched an offensive “against insurgents after they attacked a military camp outside the southern city of Lawdar ” according to Reuters. Al-Masdar Online also reported that, on the morning of the 26th of April, 2012 “warplanes bombed coastal areas in the city of Shaqra in the governorate of Abyan.”

Press TV and Reuters reported that the attack was carried out by a US drone.