Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Alleged US missiles hit a 2006 saloon Land Cruiser traveling on the outskirts of al-Manaseh village on December 29, 2012, near Radda, in the fourth strike in a week. At least three alleged al Qaeda members died and two others were injured. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm.
The three victims reportedly included Saleh Mohammed al Ameri, 33 years old and described by unnamed local officials as a senior Al Qaeda operative. The two other alleged Al Qaeda members killed include Salem Ali Abdullah Al-Ameri, 18 years old, and Abdul Wahid Matlab Al-Ameri, 22 years old
“Their bodies were charred and the car was completely obliterated,” a tribesman told Reuters. “Their bodies were not recognizable, but the government says they’re from Al Qaeda.”
AFP reported two other alleged Al Qaeda members were injured, yet their identities are not disclosed.
Local outlet Yemen Observer reported four Al Qaeda members were killed, two of whom came from Abyan province and one of whom came from Marib. The Yemen Observer added that the Al Qaeda militants were seen earlier in Khabza area in a car driving towards al-Manasih village.
AP added that “Dozens of local al-Qaida-linked fighters protested the drone strikes after traditional Islamic Friday prayers.”
The majority of sources attributed the incident to a US drone, while at least one source specified that the attack was carried out by a CIA drone.
The incident occured in the evening.
Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted a vehicle in the Al Sailah valley, between the villages Khabza/Khubza (خبزة) (coordinates: 14.563782, 44.797021) and Al Manaseh (المناسح) (coordinates: 14.579762, 44.750219), near the town Rada’a (رداع) (coordinates: 14.415088, 44.840937). This most likely refers to the area around the village Sa’ilat al Jarrah (سائلة الجرّاح), for which the coordinates are: 14.568993, 44.751559. Due to limited information and satellite imagery available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the precise location of the strike.