Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEM089-B

Incident date

May 19, 2012

Location

ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.27576, 45.357215 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Province/governorate level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A second alleged US drone strike on May 19th 2012 around noon destroyed a vehicle in the southern province of Bayda, killing two militants, international and local media reported. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm.

The attack killed the two occupants according to provincial governor Mohammed al Ameri who told the defense ministry website. The dead were alleged Al Qaeda operatives from Somalia and Yemen.

A tweet from @SUHFNET_YE specified that the air strikes occurred in the Al-Hana area in the Massoura district. @Albaidanew and other local sources described the car as being a Cressida car and the location of the vehicle as being “on a walled road in Bayda.”

Sources told AFP and Associated Press the strike was carried out by a US drone. The Yemen Air Force was reportedly not capable of carrying out such a precise strike, such as targeting a moving vehicle.

The incident occured around midday.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention that a vehicle was targeted in the southern governorate of Bayda (ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎). Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the governorate Bayda (ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎) are: 14.27576, 45.357215.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (13) [ collapse]