Airwars assessment
A US drone strike reportedly killed at least two alleged AQAP members in Al Sadarah area, in the Mahliyah district of Marib governorate, on April 15th 2019, according to some local sources. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.
The strike reportedly targeted a car travelling through the area. An eyewitness and a security source told Hadramout 24 that a drone had targeted the alleged militants, killing them instantly, in the town of Mahliyah: “A US drone raided a vehicle carrying al-Qaeda in a rural town in Ma’rib today, killing them, local residents and security sources said. An eyewitness and a security source told 24 by phone that ‘a drone bombed a vehicle carrying gunmen in the town of Mahliya, west of the city of Ma’rib, which is equally divided between the Brotherhood and the Houthis.’ A security source confirmed that at least two elements were on board, and that they were killed instantly, while the vehicle was destroyed.”
According to @NewsyemenS, the strike took place in the Al-Sadarah area of Mahliyah district.
A US Central Command spokesperson later told New America that no US military strikes were conducted in April 2019: “On May 15, 2019, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) responded to an inquiry from New America about the number and dates of any counterterrorism strikes in Yemen in April 2019 by stating that it had conducted no strikes in April. LTC Earl Brown told New America, ‘The last U.S. Military strike in Yemen was on 29 March.’”
This does not preclude a strike having been conducted either by the CIA or by the Saudi-led Coalition.
The local time of the incident is unknown.
Summary
Sources (9) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Sadarah (الصدارة), allegedly within the Mahliya (ماهليه) district, south of Marib (مريب) city. However, research suggests an Al Sadarah in the vicinity within the Harib (حريب) district, north east of the Mahliya district. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Al Sadarah are: 14.89316, 45.32884.
United States Armed Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
On May 15, 2019, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) responded to an inquiry from New America about the number and dates of any counterterrorism strikes in Yemen in April 2019 by stating that it had conducted no strikes in April. LTC Earl Brown told New America, “The last U.S. Military strike in Yemen was on 29 March.”