Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Between three and five militants were killed as suspected Yemeni Air Force/US warplanes struck Jaar, Abyan on May 19, 2012, international and local media reported. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm.
As fighting between government and insurgent forces continued in the south of Yemen, sources reported that “dozens” of Al Qaeda militants were killed within days from heavy ground battle around Jaar, as government forces, supported by US military, were advancing to retake the city from the militants. These deaths are not included here, as they took place over several days and in several locations.
Meanwhile, according to multiple sources, warplanes supported the battle on Saturday, May 19th, carrying out several strikes in the vicinity of Jaar. A local official told Reuters three alleged militants were killed, while Yemen Post reported five militants were killed.
Military officials told Associated Press that Yemeni warplanes had “pounded targets some 5 km (3 miles) outside Jaar” without giving any casualty figures. Local residents told AFP that Yemen Air Force jets launched four strikes on Jaar’s western entrance and the Yemen Post reported five militants were killed in “several airstrikes” carried out by Yemen Air Force jets.
The majority of sources attributed the airstrikes to the Yemeni government while a tweet from @crazyyafai identified US drones, the Yemen air force, and missiles from US ships as all being involved in the “attack on #AQAP in #Abyan.”
The incident occured during the night.
Summary
Sources (8) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention that airstrikes targeted Al Rabwa near the western entrance of the town of Ja’ar (جعار). We were unable to verify the location of Al Rabwa, however, the coordinates for the western entrance to the town are: 13.222961, 45.302286.