An alleged US airstrike struck a vehicle killing at least three supposed Al Qaeda fighters around Zinjibar in Abyan Province on April 30, 2012. At the moment, there are no reports of civilian harm.

The Associated Press was informed by a Yemeni military official that the airstrike was one of many that took place that day.

The lowest estimate was provided by the Associated Press, putting the number killed at three. CNN provides the highest death count estimates of 7 though it groups this number with another attack in Lawder, which reportedly resulted in four militants killed.

On June 20th, a jihadist website reported that Muhammad Fazi al Harasheh, aka Abu Hammam al Zarqawi, had died in a drone strike on a vehicle. Al Zarqawi was the nephew of former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi, killed by the US in 2006. Initial reports suggested he had been killed by a landmine.

Although the precise date of his death is unknown, the April 30th strikes appear to most closely match the description. The Long War Journal reported a militant statement as saying: “They were unable to kill him in the battles, so they sent spies to guide them to him. A drone came to bomb the car in which he and one of the brother were riding, and so his pure soul went to its maker.” With this information, it is unclear whether al Zarqawi was killed in this incident or another incident that occurred on the same day (USYEM070-B), since he was known to operate in Abyan province which Zinjibar and Lawder are both a part of.

The local time of the incident is unknown.