Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMBi015

Incident date

February 24, 2024

Location

شامير, Shamir, Taiz, Yemen

Geolocation

13.681626, 43.703559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and between six and seven others, including at least one child, were injured by alleged US-UK airstrikes on a telecommunications site in the Shamir area in the Maqbanah District on February 24, 2024.

Anadolu Agency quoted the Houthi Al-Masirah satellite channel which reported that “a citizen (civilian) was killed and 6 others, all from one family, were injured, as a result of the US-British aggression’s air strikes on the Shamir area in the Maqbana District in Taiz Governorate.” The Yemen Data Project reported that in addition to the civilian who was killed, seven others were injured.

The Human Rights Office in Taiz Governorate condemned the “American-British aggression coalition aircraft carried out this morning” which struck “the communications network in the Al-Aqhouz area”. The Human Rights Office and the Insan Organization for Rights and Liberties also provided the names of the victims. Saber Muhammad Amin Ghalib, between 22-25 years old, was killed and six others were injured: Rafiq Abdullah Muhammad Hassan, 16-18 years old, various body parts; Watheq Abdullah Amin Ghalib, 25-28 years old, seriously injured; Abdel Samad Muhammad Ahmed Ghaleb, 15 years old, fracture of the right foot; Hammam Fayed Amir Ghalib, 32-41 years old, various body parts; Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed Ghaleb, 23 years old, various body parts; Saqr Hamid Hamid Ghalib, 22-24 years old, various body parts.

US Central Command released a statement that “at approximately 11:45 p.m. (Sanaa Yemen time), U.S. Central Command forces alongside UK Armed Forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes against 18 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen….The targets included Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one- way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter.”

The UK Ministry of Defence announced: “Four Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by two Voyager tankers, again participated in a deliberate coalition strike on Saturday 24 February against Houthi military facilities in Yemen which had been conducting missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping and coalition naval forces in the Bab al Mandab, southern Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden. The RAF aircraft were allocated multiple targets located at two sites. Intelligence analysis had successfully identified several very long-range drones, used by the Houthis for both reconnaissance and attack missions, at a former surface-to-air missile battery site several miles north-east of Sanaa. Our aircraft used Paveway IV precision guided bombs against the drones and their launchers, notwithstanding the Houthis’ use of the old missile battery revetments to try to protect the drones.”

It is unclear if the US and/or UK statements are the same strikes which hit the Shamir area as the US and UK military did not provide a location.

The incident occured around midnight.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Saber Muhammad Amir Ghaleb صابر محمد امين غالب
22-25 years old killed
Watheq Abdullah Amin Ghalib وثيق عبدالله امين غالب
25-28 years old injured
Abdel Samad Muhammad Ahmed Ghaleb عبدالصمد محمد احمد غالب
15 years old injured
Hammam Fayed Amir Ghalib همام فايد امير غالب
32-41 years old injured
Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed Ghaleb احمد محمد احمد غالب
23 years old injured
Saqr Hamid Hamid Ghalib صقر حميد حامد غالب
22-24 years old injured

The victims were named as:

Rafiq Abdullah Muhammad Hassan رفيق عبدالله محمد حسان
16-18 years old male injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Shamir area (معان), potentially related to Shamir Alkadh (شمير القادح), allegedly located northwest of the Maqbanah district (مديرية مقبنة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to find boundaries for the area and to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Samir Alkadh are: 13.681626, 43.703559.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Power Station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 belligerents
    US Forces, UK Military
  • Suspected target
    Houthi Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Human rights office in Taizz
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Human rights office in Taizz
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Human rights office in Taizz
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Guardiannews
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: The Guardiannews
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @grantshapps
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

TAMPA, Fla. – On Feb. 24, at approximately 11:45 p.m. (Sanaa Yemen time), U.S. Central Command forces alongside UK Armed Forces, and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted strikes against 18 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen. These strikes from this multilateral coalition targeted areas used by the Houthis to attack international merchant vessels and naval ships in the region. Illegal Houthi attacks have disrupted humanitarian aid bound for Yemen, harmed Middle Eastern economies, and caused environmental damage.
The targets included Houthi underground weapons storage facilities, missile storage facilities, one- way attack unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter. These strikes are intended to degrade Houthi capability and disrupt their continued reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial and U.S. and U.K. vessels in the Red Sea, Bab AI-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
The goal of this multi-national effort is to defend ourselves, our partners, and allies in the region and restore freedom of navigation by destroying Houthi capabilities used to threaten U.S. and partner forces in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways. These strikes are separate and distinct from the multinational freedom of navigation actions performed under Operation Prosperity Guardian.

UK Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

UK Military

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by two Voyager tankers, again participated in a deliberate coalition strike on Saturday 24 February against Houthi military facilities in Yemen which had been conducting missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping and coalition naval forces in the Bab al Mandab, southern Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden.

The RAF aircraft were allocated multiple targets located at two sites.
Intelligence analysis had successfully identified several very long-range drones, used by the Houthis for both reconnaissance and attack missions, at a former surface-to-air missile battery site several miles north-east of Sanaa. Our aircraft used Paveway IV precision guided bombs against the drones and their launchers, notwithstanding the Houthis’ use of the old missile battery revetments to try to protect the drones.
Previous RAF strikes, on 11 January and 3 February, had already successfully destroyed a number of buildings used to support drone and cruise missile operations at Bani, some fifteen miles west of Abbs airfield in north-western Yemen. Additional buildings at the Bani site had subsequently been confirmed as also being involved in the drone and missile activities there and were therefore targeted during this latest strike.
In planning the strikes, as is normal practice with such RAF operations, the greatest possible care was taken to minimise any risk of civilian casualties.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Power Station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–7
  • 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 belligerents
    US Forces, UK Military
  • Suspected target
    Houthi Forces

Sources (16) [ collapse]