Geolocation
Airwars assessment
At least two fishermen, including a 16-year old child, were killed and two others were injured by alleged US airstrikes or Houthi drone strikes off the coast of Al Mukha on February 29, 2024.
A tweet from @aalnaasi reported that US aircraft carried out two raids on a Yemeni fishing boat that was sailing near the British ship called the Rubymar, resulting in the death of a fisherman and the injury of others.” @gasm11taher identified two fishermen killed in the strike, from Al-Amoudi neighborhood in Mukha, adding that no one could enter the area to rescue the casualties for fear of follow-up airstrikes. Cratersky added that four boats were still missing at sea.
@Yemen_YF provided the highest casualty toll from Al Arabiya of four people killed, and blamed the casualties on a Houthi drone.
@Mahmud539 provided the name of victim Musa Taher, who was working on the boat at the time. Source Mujahid Al Qab stated that Taher Musa was 16 years old. The same sources added that Ali bin Ali Mudardar, 38 years old, was also killed. Muhammad Salem Zuhair, in his 30s, and Saleh Omar Hashash, 34 years old, were reported injured. Sources said that Muhammad and Saleh’s boat sunk from the strikes, and they swam around until they were rescued by another fishing boat, which then had an engine malfunction. They were finally rescued by another boat from the Fishermen’s Association.
The Al-Ziyadi Fish Cooperative Society spoke with the surviving fishermen who said that Ali bin Ali Mudardar’s body sunk along with his boat.
Tihama 24 News spoke with a local figure in the city of Mukha named Shawqi Ibrahim who said that “the fishermen approached the ship to conduct reconnaissance and obtain a video, before the air strikes surprised them” and that the fisherman were struck with a warplane, not a drone.
US Central Command released a statement that “On Feb. 29, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted two self-defense strikes against six mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea.” It is unclear if the US statement is referencing the same strike which hit the fishing boat, as the US military did not provide a location.
This assessment was changed from fair to contested on March 12, 2024 based on information from sources @Yemen_YF and @aop11ds accusing the Houthis of being responsible for the strike.
The incident occured in the afternoon.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (16) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]
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Source: @gasm11taher
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention alleged strikes off the coast of Al Mukha (المُخا), which is to the west of Taiz Governorate (تَعِزّ). The generic coordinates for the city of Al Mukha are: 13.317916, 43.250109.
US Forces Assessment:
Original strike reports
Feb. 29, 2024
Release Number 20240229 - 01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Feb. 29, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted two self-defense strikes against six mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch towards the Red Sea.
Earlier that evening, at approximately 5:10 p.m. (Sanna time), CENTCOM forces shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the southern Red Sea in self-defense.
CENTCOM forces determined that the missiles and UAV presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.