Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMBi007

Incident date

November 30, 2022

Location

حدبا العوشان, Hadba Al Awshan, Marib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.540801, 45.461054 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one to three civilians, including a woman and two children, were reported killed and up to five others, including a woman, a child and two paramedics, were injured in alleged US drone strikes on a home in the Al-Hadba area of Al-Wadi, Marib on November 30, 2022. A member of Ansar al-Sharia (AQAP) who was renting the home may also have been killed or injured.

Khabar Agency stated that the house was believed to belong to a member of Ansar al-Sharia (AQAP) and that one person was killed and five were wounded, including citizens who tried to rescue survivors of the airstrikes but were injured/killed by shells that exploded. Al-Mawqea Post specified that two civilian paramedics who were trying to rescue the survivors were injured by explosions.

Al-Mawqea Post quoted medics who reported that “two women and two children were rescued from inside the targeted house, while the paramedics rescued a child after one of his feet was amputated in the airstrike, and he was taken with his mother to a nearby hospital in the area” while @KthMuZeaSdcqCgY tweeted that “a woman and her children were killed” as a result of the bombing.

According to @kh89saleh22, the home was a weapons store and the weapons detonated from the airstrike, killing “leaders of the terrorist…organization” as well as women and children. Al Mawqea Post quoted a local source who said that explosive devices, belts, and shells were found stored in the home, causing the explosions.

While Khabar Agency referred to the strike as occurring at dawn, @AlghbaryAtf tweeted that local sources put the drone strike at midnight.

Yemen Press Agency reported that the drone strike hit the house of Hamoud Al-Duwail in Al-Hadba area, Al-Wadi. Al Mawqea Post referred to the home as being inhabited by a displaced person from Al-Bayda governorate, who had rented the home from Hamoud Al-Duwail two years ago, with Yemen Days identifying him as “a prominent leader of the Islah party”. Multiple local sources referred to the location of the home as being in Hadba Al-Awshan market area.

The majority of the sources attributed the strikes to American drones to varying degrees of certainty, with only Yemen Days referring to the “high precision” drone strikes as being with American or Emirati. According to Yemen Days, the strike occurred days after the governor of the province, Sultan al-Arada, concluded an agreement with the UAE that included disengaging him from the Islah party.

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • Fire and explosions caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Yemen Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Al Mawqea post)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by Al Mawqea post)
  • Fire and explosions caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by @VG7FzHXGNBa2LwY)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by @bdallhbnbwdals1)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by @bdallhbnbwdals1)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by @bdallhbnbwdals1)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by @bdallhbnbwdals1)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by @bdallhbnbwdals1)
  • Damage caused by caused by alleged US drone strikes on a home east of Marib on November 30, 2022. (Image posted by @bdallhbnbwdals1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a market, allegedly located with the village of Hadba Al Awshan (حدبا العوشان), east of Marib (مأرب) city. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Habda Al Awshan are: 15.540801, 45.461054.

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
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–1

Sources (13) [ collapse]