(Previous Incident Code: YEMT136)

A US drone strike reportedly killed at least one alleged AQAP militant in Marib governorate, according to some local language social media accounts, though others suggested that he was an officer in the Yemen army. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Most sources indicated that Muhammad Talib Saleh Al-Faqir was killed in the strike; Twitter users @egl3000 and @hakak3333thamr suggested that he was “a senior officer” or “brigade commander” in the Yemen military.

Three others – @YeAbood, @Shuaibalmosawa, and @mssbilaraby – indicated that Al-Faqir was a suspected AQAP militant. The latter two sources suggested that two other suspected militants (from Qayfa and Briki) were also killed in the attack. AQAP militants have been previously reported to have fought alongside pro-Hadi government forces.

Most suggested that the strike targeted a car near Al-Bahri station in the Al-Juba area, though one gave a location of Kara, in the Wadi Obeida area.

Sources initially reported the strike late on January 28th, and alleged images of the site indicated that the attack likely took place during the night.

In a detailed list provided to the Long War Journal of US actions in Yemen during early 20178, no mention was made of a strike in Marib on this date – though an attack was declared in Bayda. This is detailed in a separate entry.