Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMTr204

Incident date

August 22, 2019

Location

المشيريف, Mashreif valley, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.7964580, 45.0407720 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One source, Yemen Shabab, reported that a US drone strike had killed three alleged AQAP militants driving in the Mashreif area of Bayda governorate, on August 22nd 2019. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

One other Twitter source, @tlaal661, suggested on August 22nd that a “second” US strike had targeted AQAP in Marib governorate. The Mashreif area lies on the border between Bayda and Marib.

It is possible that these sources instead reflect late reporting of an alleged US strike in the same area overnight from August 20th-21st (USYEMTr203).

Given the vagueness of the Twitter source, this event has been assessed as a “single source” claim. On October 4th 2019, US Central Command told New America that no US military strikes had been conducted since June 24th 2019. This does not however preclude this having been a possible CIA action, or a clandestine US military action.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the strike took place in the Mashreif (المشيريف) area, on the border between the Bayda and Marib governorates. The Mashreif (المشيريف) area is a valley at these coordinates: 14.7964580, 45.0407720. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Mashreif (المشيريف) valley between Bayda and Marib governorates.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Mashreif (المشيريف) valley between Bayda and Marib governorates.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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
    3

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US Forces

On October 4, 2019, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) replied to an email inquiry from New America confirming that “the last strike conducted by CENTCOM in Yemen was 24 June.” Per that statement, there were no CENTCOM strikes in Yemen in August 2019.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • 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
    3

Sources (4) [ collapse]