Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMTr135

Incident date

January 12, 2018

Location

لقاح, Liqah, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.539317935, 44.829586993 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five AQAP militants were reportedly killed in the course of up to five alleged US drone strikes in Qayfa, Bayda governorate, on the evening of January 12th 2018.  According to local-language news sources, strikes reportedly targeted the area of Hami Liqah. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

A source told Russia Today Arabic that strikes had targeted Hami Liqah. Local-language sources including Aden Lang and Akhbar Al-Aan also reported strikes in Hami Liqah.

There were also reports of strikes in Jabal Novan, Dhi Kalb, and the Al-Jassima areas of Qayfa on January 12th. Unique events have been created to account for these reports.

Several sources indicated that strikes in Qayfa on the 12th resulted in a number of militant deaths and injuries. Locals reportedly told Al Yom Press that “the raids targeted a site for the militants as well as a car belonging to them, and resulted in deaths and injuries”.  Two English-language sources, @demolinari and @switch_d, further named one of the dead as Jawas Ahmed. These reports are accounted for in event USYEMTr132.

In an email to the Long War Journal, a US Central Command spokesperson confirmed that a strike took place against AQAP in Bayda on January 12th. There were no known reports of strikes against AQAP outside of Qayfa on that day. This confirmation has been accounted for in event USYEMTr132, though it could have applied to any or all of the reported strikes in Qayfa, Bayda, on January 12th.

The incident occured in the evening.

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (24) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Alleged AQAP militant Jawas Ahmed was allegedly one of those killed by reported US strikes in Qayfa on January 12th (@demolinari, January 12th 2018)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Liqah (لقاح), for which the generic coordinates are: 14.539317935, 44.829586993. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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 attacker
    US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Sources (24) [ collapse]