(Previous Incident Codes: YEM146C USYEM170 )

Five alleged Al Qaeda militants were killed and four were injured in a reported US or Yemeni air or drone strike in the Al Mahfad district of the Abyan province on January 5th, 2014. No civilian harm was reported.

The Yemeni Ministry of Interior reported that an airstrike occurred which struck AQAP hideouts in the Al Khalayah and Hadawa areas of the Al Mahfad district in Abyan province. The Yemen Times reported that five Al Qaeda militants were killed and four were injured. However, the Ministry claimed that the exact number of militants injured and killed was unknown. Shakir Al-Ghadeer, a soldier in the Abyan-based brigade 111, noted that the Air Force targeted two Toyota Hilux models that were subsequently destroyed in the attack.

The Yemeni Ministry of Interior did not mention if the Yemeni or US military were responsible for the strike. Nashwan news reported that the airstrike was done by a drone which indicates US involvement. However, Yemen Times attributed the strike to the Yemeni Air Force.