Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMBi014

Incident date

February 2, 2024

Location

مزارع الجار, ِAl Jar farms, Hajjah, Yemen

Geolocation

16.030247, 42.980695 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A farm worker was injured by alleged US-UK airstrikes on a farm in the “Al-Jar Farms” area in Abs District on February 2, 2024.

According to Jameel Ahmad, American-British fighter jets launched four airstrikes against former President “Ali Saleh’s farm in the “Al-Jar Farms” area in Abs District,” which was a farm that the Houthis had converted to grow produce but “there was no military site there.” Jameel Ahmad also spoke with a source who said that reconnaissance planes had flown over the area earlier in the day “as dozens of workers were present on the farm, and that most of the farmers were able to leave before the bombing, while one of the farmers was moderately injured”. Al Mashhad News and Yemen data project reported a similar casualty number, and Al Mashhad News quoted Houthi sources who said that the strikes did not hit any vital or sensitive targets.

Islamic Republic News Agency reported similar details that the US-UK jointly carried out strikes on the city of Abs in Hajjah Province, according to a Yemeni intelligence official, hours after a British vessel was hit off the western coast of Yemen.

US Central Command released a statement that “at approximately 4:40 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes against four Houthi UAVs that were prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region. U.S. forces subsequently struck and destroyed the UAVs in self-defense.” It is unclear if these are the same strikes which hit the farm as the US military did not provide a location.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an alleged strike in the al Jar farms area (مزارع الجار) to the west of Abs (عبس). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the al Jar farms are: 16.030247, 42.980695.

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Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US Forces, UK Military, UK Military
  • Suspected target
    Houthi Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

TAMPA, Fla. - On Feb. 2, at approximately 10:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), USS Carney (DDG 64) engaged and shot down one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damage reported.
Later that same day, at approximately 4:40 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes against four Houthi UAVs that were prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region. U.S. forces subsequently struck and destroyed the UAVs in self-defense.
Then, at 9:20 p.m. (Sanaa time), USS Laboon (DDG 58) and F/A-18s from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group engaged and shot down seven UAVs over the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported. These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.

UK Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    UK Military
  • UK Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

UK Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    UK Military
  • UK Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected belligerents
    US Forces, UK Military, UK Military
  • Suspected target
    Houthi Forces

Sources (7) [ collapse]