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Airwars Assessment
(Previous Incident Code: YEM258)
On January 25th 2017, a US spokesperson confirmed that a strike took place in al-Bayda governorate on January 20th, killing one AQAP operative. This confirmed reports that a US drone strike in al-Suma’a district, Bayda governorate, killed at least one alleged AQAP militant on that afternoon. There were no known reports of civilian harm. January 20th 2017 marked the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Several reports, from sources including @demolinari and Nashwa News, named the alleged AQAP member killed as “leader” Abu Anas Al-Ibbi, who AFP reported to be a “local military instructor” for AQAP. Others, including Sky News Arabia, described the person killed as a “moderate” leader in AQAP.
Some sources, however, later suggested that Al-Ibbi was killed in a further strike on January 21st 2020. Lime Charlie News indicated that Al-Ibbi was killed on January 21st, but also described the person killed in the strike a day prior as “a militia organizer and trainer of militia members”, matching AFP’s description of Al-Ibbi as an “instructor”. According to Lima Charlie News, the “high value target” killed on January 20th resided in a small building behind a Madressa, and the target’s whereabouts was confirmed by “assets” on the ground prior to the strike.
An AQAP statement later confirmed that “brother jihadist” Abu Anas Al-Ibbi had been killed by a US drone strike on the afternoon of January 20th. Twitter sources, including @demolinari and @yemencurrent, indicated that the strike targeted a car in the area, and the latter specified that it took place at around 11:50 AM.
On January 23rd 2017, a US military spokesperson stated that three airstrikes had targeted AQAP militants in al-Bayda governorate from the 20th to the 22nd, killing five.
Although the strike occurred on the same day as the inauguration of the US president, the Washington Post reported Pentagon spokesperson Navy Captain Jeff Davis as saying that they (three strikes confirmed by the US) did not require approval by recently appointed Defense Secretary James Mattis or of new President Donald Trump.
Key Information
Geolocation Notes
Reports of the incident mention a strike on a vehicle in the district of Al Suma’a (مديرية الصومعة). Yemen Current (@yemencurrent) alleged that the exact coordinates for this incident are: 14.238230, 45.833603, we can confirm that this location is within the district mentioned, however, due to limited information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Reports of the incident mention a strike on a vehicle in the district of Al Suma'a (مديرية الصومعة).
Imagery: Google Earth
The alleged exact location of the strike according to one source.
Imagery: Google Earth
Military Statements
Media From Sources (5)
US drone strike targeted a car yesterday afternoon in Al-Sawmaa district of #Bayda province killing #AQAP leader Abu Anas Al-Ibbi. #Yemen
— demolinari (@demolinari) January 21, 2017
US military says it killed 5 al-Qaeda fighters in Yemen in 3 drone strikes beginning Friday, part ongoing CT mission against AQAP
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) January 25, 2017
#AlQaeda says US #drone strike in al-Sawma'a province of al-Bayda' #Yemen killed "brother jihadist" Abu Anas al-Ibbi y'day a'noon. #AQAP
— Elisabeth Kendall (@Dr_E_Kendall) January 21, 2017