(Previous Incident Code: YEM181C )

Reports of a US drone strike in Hadramout were strongly contradicted by Yemeni and AQAP sources.

AFP and Xinhua respectively reported that a drone strike killed four or five people, citing unnamed Yemeni officials. A military source told Xinhua: “The US drone fired three missiles on a gathering of al Qaeda operatives in the Sert Valley in Hadramout province, killing five commanders of the terrorist group.”

However AQAP denied the attack took place at all, according to investigative reporter Iona Craig. “Nothing happened” – AQAP on reports today of drone strike in Wadi Sarr, Hadhramaut,” Craig tweeted.

A military officer in Hadramout also denied to the Yemen Times that the strike happened, saying an explosive device had targeted a vehicle belonging to his regiment in First Military Region. He said there were no casualties in the explosion that he blamed upon AQAP. The armed group had not claimed responsibility.

Yemen Times also reported that “staff at the al Qatan and Shebam security offices also denied any knowledge of a drone strike in the governorate.”