Geolocation
Airwars assessment
A US drone strike reportedly targeted a car transporting six alleged AQAP militants near Bin Ma’ali Station, in Marib governorate, on the morning of January 27th 2020. The strike came alongside a second reported US action (USYEMTr219-C) on January 27th in Al Hazmia, also in Marib. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.
According to reporting by Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni and Mint Press, the strike targeted the “companions” or “bodyguards” of a local AQAP leader, “Qasilah”, killed in the second January 27th strike. Local tribal leaders and witnesses told Mint Press that “many” were killed and injured.
Given these reports, Airwars has assessed that at least two militants were reportedly killed, and at least two were reportedly injured, in the reported strike.
US Central Command told Airwars that no US military strikes were conducted during January 2020 in Yemen. It is, however, possible that an undeclared strike was conducted by the CIA, or as part of a clandestine US military action.
The incident occured in the morning.
Summary
Sources (6) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]
Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]
Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Bi’in Ma’ili (بن معيلي) station, south east of the city of Ma’rib (مأرب). According to one source, @JoshuaKoontz__, and after verifying his claims, we have found two stations on the same street bearing the name Bi’in Maili. One at: 15.464066, 45.439751, and the other at: 15.457613, 45.428775. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates between these two stations are: 15.460829, 45.434440.
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
CENTCOM told Airwars that there were no US military strikes during January 2020 in Yemen. The last declared CENTCOM action was on June 24th 2019 in Al Bayda province.