Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMTr097

Incident date

August 19, 2017

Location

Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.598056, 45.060000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

US airstrikes reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants travelling in Yakla, east of the Qifah area of Bayda governorate, early on the morning of August 19th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Several sources suggested that US helicopters and warplanes, reportedly including drones and “vertical fighters” [possibly USMC Harriers], targeted four suspected AQAP cars on the main road in the area.

One source, Albedeel, reported that Xinhua news agency had spoken with a “local source”, who said that US drones bombed both fixed and mobile targets, resulting in “human and material losses”. Airwars has therefore assessed that at least one AQAP militant was reportedly killed in the strike. The original reported Xinhua story could not be found.

A few sources suggested that, according to local residents, the strikes came alongside or after an attempted US troop landing. Al Masdar Online reported that “earlier that day, Apache helicopters had attempted to carry out an airdrop of US forces, but armed tribesmen were able to prevent them”.

The incident occured around dawn.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Yakla (يكلا‎) village, east of the Qifah (قيفه) area. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Yakla are: 14.598056, 45.060000.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

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
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (24) [ collapse]