Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEMTr109

Incident date

October 25, 2017

Location

بقرات, Baqarat, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.526904, 44.844816 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US airstrike killed two ISIS militants “in a parked truck” in Bayda governorate on October 25th 2017, a US Central Command spokesperson told CNN News, one of two strikes against the group in the area that day.

This confirmed local reports that a US drone strike had targeted ISIS militants in Baqarat, in the Qayfa area of Bayda, on the evening of October 25th, though sources suggested that as many as seven had died in the strike. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Sources, including @demolinari, suggested that one of the two strikes targeted the vicinity of Ayshamah, between the Yakla and Dhi Kalb areas, while another targeted the Baqarat area, which lies to the west of Ayshamah. Since CENTCOM told CNN that this strike took place “about five miles to the west” of another strike (USYEMTr108), reports regarding the Baqarat area have been associated by Airwars with this event. It remains possible that any one of these reports instead referred to USYEMTr108.

While CENTCOM briefed that two were killed in the strike, reports from Salmashad and Addiyar indicated that, according to local sources, seven alleged ISIS militants were killed by a strike in the Baqarat area.

Reports of the overall death toll from the two strikes varied. Multiple sources, including AFP, suggested that a total of 13 militants were killed in the two strikes, though US Central Command told CNN that nine had died. At the lower end, VOA reported that “at least seven” had been killed, while one Twitter source suggested that six had died in the course of both strikes.

Though most indicated that the targets were ISIS-affiliated, some asserted that AQAP militants had been killed.  According to Al-Hudud and some local-language Twitter users, one strike killed three AQAP leaders and four “others” in a car, though it was unclear which specific strike this referred to.

The strikes came less than ten days after US forces targeted ISIS militants in Yemen for the first time, in strikes (USYEMTr105 and USYEMTr106) on two training camps that cumulatively killed over 50 fighters, according to the US.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–7

Sources (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area surrounding the village of Baqarat (بقرات), for which the generic coordinates are: 14.526904, 44.844816. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

The US military conducted two airstrikes targeting ISIS in Yemen on Wednesday, killing nine ISIS militants, according to US Central Command, which oversees US troops in the region.
The two strikes hit ISIS vehicles and took place in al Bayda Governorate in Yemen.
This is only the second time the US has targeted ISIS in Yemen with a series of strikes, suggesting US planners are increasingly concerned about the terror group's presence there.
Military strikes there have historically targeted al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
"Ongoing US counter-terrorism operations against ISIS in the ungoverned spaces of Yemen continued today with two strikes, which killed nine terrorists," said US Army Maj. Josh Jacques, a Central Command spokesperson.
The first strike successfully targeted seven armed ISIS fighters traveling in a truck in a rural area of al Bayda. The second strike killed two armed ISIS fighters in a parked truck located about five miles to the west of the first site, Jacques said.
In the last 10 days, US forces have successfully targeted and removed 60 ISIS terrorists from the battlefield in Yemen.
A series of strikes on two ISIS terror training camps in al Bayda on October 16, killed more than 50 terrorists, disrupting the organization's attempts to train new fighters.
ISIS used the camps to train aspiring militants to conduct terror attacks, conducting courses in assault tactics and the use of AK-47s, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
Yemen has been wracked by warfare and has become a proxy battleground for Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Yemen's minority Houthis, who are Shiite, rebelled against the Sunni-led government, backed by Saudi Arabia.
That spurred the Saudi-led coalition to launch airstrikes in support of Yemen's government against rebel targets in Yemen in March of 2015.
The United Nations has called the conflict a "humanitarian catastrophe."
Government forces and the Saudi-led coalition also have fought against the al Qaeda branch in Yemen and ISIS, both of which are anti-government Sunni terror groups.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–7

Sources (34) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr108

Incident date

October 25, 2017

Location

عيشمة, Ayshamah, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.564228951, 44.951198936 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US airstrike killed seven ISIS militants “traveling in a truck in a rural area of al-Bayda” governorate on October 25th 2017, a US Central Command spokesperson told CNN News, one of two declared strikes against the group in the area that day.

This confirmed local reports that US drone strikes had killed at least six militants between Yakla and Dhi Kalb, both in Qayfa area of Bayda, in the evening of October 25th.  There were no known reports of civilian harm.

Sources, including @demolinari, suggested that one of the two strikes targeted the vicinity of Ayshamah, between the Yakla and Dhi Kalb areas, while another targeted the Baqarat area, which lies to the west of Ayshamah. Since CENTCOM told CNN that a second strike (USYEMTr109) took place “about five miles to the west” of this event, reports regarding the Ayshamah area have been associated by Airwars with this strike. It remains possible that any one of these reports instead referred to the strike detailed in USYEMTr109.

While CENTCOM briefed that seven were killed in the strike, local sources told Salmashad and Al-Masdar Online that six alleged ISIS militants were killed between Yakla and Dhi Kalb, in the Ayshamah area, while travelling in a car.

Reports of the overall death toll from the two strikes varied. Multiple sources, including AFP, suggested that a total of 13 militants were killed in the two strikes, though US Central Command told CNN that nine had died. At the lower end, VOA reported that “at least seven” had been killed, while one Twitter user, @intelyse_arabia, suggested that six had died in the course of both strikes.

Though most indicated that the targets were ISIS-affiliated, some claimed that AQAP militants had been killed. According to Al-Hudud and some local-language Twitter users, one strike killed three AQAP leaders and four “others” in a car, though it was unclear which specific strike this referred to.

The strikes came less than ten days after US forces targeted ISIS militants in Yemen for the first time, in strikes (USYEMTr105 and USYEMTr106) on two training camps that cumulatively killed over 50 fighters, according to the US.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–7

Sources (34) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ayshamah (عيشمة), for which the generic coordinates are: 14.564228951, 44.951198936. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

The US military conducted two airstrikes targeting ISIS in Yemen on Wednesday, killing nine ISIS militants, according to US Central Command, which oversees US troops in the region.
The two strikes hit ISIS vehicles and took place in al Bayda Governorate in Yemen.
This is only the second time the US has targeted ISIS in Yemen with a series of strikes, suggesting US planners are increasingly concerned about the terror group's presence there.
Military strikes there have historically targeted al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
"Ongoing US counter-terrorism operations against ISIS in the ungoverned spaces of Yemen continued today with two strikes, which killed nine terrorists," said US Army Maj. Josh Jacques, a Central Command spokesperson.
The first strike successfully targeted seven armed ISIS fighters traveling in a truck in a rural area of al Bayda. The second strike killed two armed ISIS fighters in a parked truck located about five miles to the west of the first site, Jacques said.
In the last 10 days, US forces have successfully targeted and removed 60 ISIS terrorists from the battlefield in Yemen.
A series of strikes on two ISIS terror training camps in al Bayda on October 16, killed more than 50 terrorists, disrupting the organization's attempts to train new fighters.
ISIS used the camps to train aspiring militants to conduct terror attacks, conducting courses in assault tactics and the use of AK-47s, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
Yemen has been wracked by warfare and has become a proxy battleground for Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Yemen's minority Houthis, who are Shiite, rebelled against the Sunni-led government, backed by Saudi Arabia.
That spurred the Saudi-led coalition to launch airstrikes in support of Yemen's government against rebel targets in Yemen in March of 2015.
The United Nations has called the conflict a "humanitarian catastrophe."
Government forces and the Saudi-led coalition also have fought against the al Qaeda branch in Yemen and ISIS, both of which are anti-government Sunni terror groups.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known targets
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    6–7

Sources (34) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr107

Incident date

October 19, 2017

Location

بين شرجان و ذي حورة, Between Sharjan and Dhi Hawra, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.010619, 45.813428 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On December 20th 2017, US Central Command stated that a strike had killed Obeidah Al-Lawdari, AQAP’s so-called Emir of Lawda”, and four “associates” in Bayda governorate on October 19th 2017.

This announcement confirmed several earlier reports that a US drone strike had killed at least three alleged AQAP militants travelling in a car on or near the border of Mukayras and Sama’a districts, in Bayda governorate, before sunset on October 19th.  There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Sources, including a pro-AQAP feed quoted by Dr Elisabeth Kendall (@Dr_E_Kendall), named the dead as AQAP leader Nayef Al-Damaji Abu Obeidah Al-Lawdari; Salah Hadi Al-Lawdari; Shuaib Al-Lawdari; Nader Al-Jaru; and Shamil Al-Jadani, also named by some as Shamil Al-Abyani.

Sources gave varying descriptions of the specific location of the strike. Most indicated that the attack took place in the Shurjan area – but disagreed on which side of the district border the strike fell. Some, including Al-Masdar Online, indicated the Shurjan area of Sama’a district, while @demolinari instead maintained that the strike took place in Shurjan, Mukayras, as the militants travelled between Shurjan and Dhi Hawra. Local sources told Marib Press that the strike took place in the Al-Khishna area of Sama’a.

Initial local language reports and Yemeni tribal leaders spoken with by Associated Press suggested that at least three alleged militants had died in the strike. Other local language reports, including Sky News Arabia, stated that four were killed immediately in the strike, with two sources – Telegraph Yemen and @barakish_net – suggesting that a total of six had died.

One source, @demolinari, tweeting a day after the strike, indicated that one person was not immediately killed but had died later, possibly accounting for the variance between several initial accounts and the CENTCOM tally.

According to Xinhua, a Yemeni security source indicated that the strike targeted militants as they moved “into their hideouts”, while @demolinari, indicated that those killed were “fleeing from advancing Security Belt forces”.

All of those named were reportedly from Abyan governorate. According to @demolinari, Nader Al-Jaru was from Mudiyah, and Shamil Al-Jadani was from Wadea, while the names of the three others indicated that they were from Lawdar.

In a statement, US Central Command said that Obeidah Al-Lawdari “had been known to provide equipment and money in support of AQAP attacks against [Saudi-led] Coalition forces, posing an increased threat to U.S. interests”.

A US spokesperson told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism that this strike on October 19 brought the number of American strikes against AQAP in Yemen to over 110 during 2017. This total did not include the two strikes against Islamic State training camps, which marked the first time US forces had hit the group in Yemen.

The incident occured around dusk.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–6

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • US Central Command confirmed that a strike killed five alleged AQAP militants in Mukayras, Bayda, on October 19th 2017 (@demolinari, October 20th 2017)
  • According to one source, pro-AQAP channels named one of the dead as Shamil Al-Jadani (@demolinari, October 20th 2017).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One source suggested that four were killed immediately when their vehicle was fired on, while a fifth died after from his wounds (@demolinari, October 20th 2017).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One source suggested that four were killed immediately when their vehicle was fired on, while a fifth died after from his wounds (@demolinari, October 20th 2017).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One source suggested that four were killed immediately when their vehicle was fired on, while a fifth died after from his wounds (@demolinari, October 20th 2017).
  • Nader Al-Jaru, from Mudiyah, was reportedly amongst those killed in the October 19th strike (@demolinari, December 7th 2017)
  • Nader Al-Jaru, from Mudiyah, was reportedly amongst those killed in the October 19th strike (@demolinari, December 7th 2017)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck while travelling between the villages of Sharjan (شرجان) and Dhi Hawra (ذي حورة), in the Mukayras (مكيراس) district. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the middle point between these two villages are: 14.010619, 45.813428

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck while travelling between the villages of Sharjan (شرجان) and Dhi Hawra (ذي حورة).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. forces have conducted multiple ground operations and more than 120 strikes in 2017 to remove key leaders and disrupt the ability of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS-Yemen to use ungoverned spaces in Yemen as a hub for terrorist recruiting, training, and base of operations to export terror worldwide.

AQAP is one of the terrorist groups most committed to and capable of conducting attacks in America, as assessed by the intelligence and defense communities, while intelligence estimates indicate that ISIS-Y has doubled in size over the past year.

In November, the U.S. conducted 10 strikes across Yemen governorates al-Bayda, and Marib including a strike on Mujahid al-Adani, AQAP Shabwah leader, who was killed Nov. 20 in al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen. Al-Adani, also known as Mohammad Shukri, was a senior leader responsible for planning and conducting terrorist attacks against Yemeni, Coalition and tribal security forces. He exerted significant influence within AQAP's terrorist attack networks, similarly, maintained close ties and access to the group's other senior leaders, and previously served as an AQAP military leader in Aden.

Al-Bayda AQAP facilitator Abu Layth al-Sanaani and three AQAP associates were also killed in the Nov. 20 strike.

Ruwahah al-Sanaani, also an AQAP facilitator, was killed Nov. 2 in Marib Governorate.

In October, a strike Oct. 19 killed Ubaydah al-Lawdari, the Emir of Lawdar, and four associates in al-Bayda Governorate. Al-Lawdari had been known to provide equipment and money in support of AQAP attacks against Coalition forces, posing an increased threat to U.S. interests.

Meanwhile, a series of strikes against two ISIS terror training camps in al-Bayda Oct. 16 killed more than 50 ISIS-Y combatants, disrupting the organization's attempts to recruit and train new fighters.

"The removal of key facilitators in this region will interrupt AQAP's freedom of movement and likely force the group into a reactionary posture, limiting their ability to challenge Yemeni Security Forces and partnered advances," said Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a CENTCOM spokesman.
"U.S. forces also expanded counterterrorism operations in October to encompass both AQAP and ISIS. This parallel targeting effort is required to prevent ISIS-Y from filling the vacuum left by a diminished AQAP footprint or influence in the region," he said.

Ongoing operations pressuring the network have also degraded AQAP's propaganda production, reducing one of the methods for the terror group to recruit and inspire lone wolf attacks across the globe. The al-Masra Newsletter, previously published three times a month, has not been published since July.

Al-Malahim Establishment for Media Production, which produces AQAP's terrorist-inspiring video series, as well as Inspire Magazine, saw a large drop in October. Unable to produce video series and graphic terror-inspiring magazines, AQAP has resorted to using low-tech audio messages.

"U.S. forces have enabled regional counterterrorism partners to regain territory from these terrorists - forcing them to spend more time on survival," said Brown. "These operations have helped to illuminate terrorist networks, making intelligence-gathering, subsequent targeting and follow-on operations increasingly productive and effective.

"Every strike, every raid and every partnered operation advance the defeat of these violent extremist organizations. U.S. forces will continue to use all effective measures to degrade the groups' ability to export terror."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    5–6

Sources (33) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USSOM095-C

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

Farah Waeys, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Geolocation

1.9922, 44.861 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (other) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike near Bariire on October 16th was confirmed by the US military. However, numerous allegations of civilian harm by international media have been denied.

Whilst US Africa Command did not initially publish a press release regarding this strike, they confirmed to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism at the time that they carried out a strike against al Shabaab at 16:30 local time. A spokesperson said the operation occurred in southern Somalia, about 35 miles southwest of Mogadishu.

The Guardian published an article in January 2018 detailing recent strikes in Somalia that had seen allegations of civilian casualties. One took place on an unspecified day in October. US officials had confirmed a single strike 35 miles southwest of Mogadishu. Local sources told the Guardian that eight civilians in the village of Awdhegle had been injured. An elder from the village said said that three women, a child and four men were transported to a hospital in Mogadishu after their house was hit.“They were herders and farmers, not al-Shabaab ,” the elder said. A doctor at the hospital told the Guardian two men and a woman injured in an airstrike between Awdhegle and Barire were treated.

In March 2019, Amnesty International published a major report on civilian harm in Somalia that detailed this incident. Their report claimed that a US armed drone twice targeted a suspected al Shabaab vehicle travelling between Awdheegle and Bariire – two al Shabaab controlled towns. The attacks reportedly killed two nearby civilians and injured five others, including two children, alongside an unknown number of al Shaabab fighters.

Amnesty spoke to eyewitnesses who told them that the first strike missed the vehicle and struck the eastern bank of the road next to some makeshift homes in a settlement. This strike allegedly killed Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Yusuf Hussein, a 25 year old farmer. A second munition was then fired that struck the vehicle as it was continuing to the north of the settlement.

Bashir, who fled the attack, told Amnesty that he returned to find Sheikh Ahmed dying in his home – just 20 steps away from where the munition had struck – as shrapnel had gone right through him.

Amnesty also named Siidow Abdullahi Mohamed Hassan, a 40 year old farmer as being fatally injured in the attack – he was reportedly taken to Sudan for further treatment before he died a few days later.

A further five civilians were injured in the drone strike, including the eight year old son of Siidow, Mohamed Siidow Abdullahi, and a six year old boy named Khalif Adow Osman.

The NGO added that “According to records obtained by Amnesty International, a total of 12 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and two GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided bombs were dropped by the US Air Force in Somalia on this day. Those weapons were fired from MQ-9 Reaper drones, based in Djibouti. Two Hellfire missiles were most likely used in this attack, based on the types and extent of damage and injuries, and that a munition with a powered rocket-motor is more-often used to strike a moving vehicle.”

US Africa Command denied that any civilians were harmed in response to Amnesty’s allegations:

“AFRICOM conducted a precision-guided strike that corresponds to the time and location alleged, targeting a vehicle containing al-Shabaab fighters. Social media posts alleged CIVCAS shortly after the event. AFRICOM conducted a CIVCAS allegation assessment regarding this strike and determined it is not likely to have caused the civilian casualties. Information gathered before and after the strike indicated that all individuals injured or killed were members or affiliates of al-Shabaab.”

It said it still assessed that the strike resulted in “three enemy wounded in action and one vehicle destroyed”.

Responding to the AFRICOM statements, Amnesty noted: “The fact that the vehicle and those in it were the apparent targets would support the assertions that those killed or injured beside the road were civilians uninvolved in the conflict. The burden is on the US military to explain why they do not count these individuals, including children, who were not the intended targets but nevertheless were killed and injured, as civilian casualties.

Amnesty International’s evidence above establishes that contrary to AFRICOM’s assessment, civilians were killed during the attack in Farah Waeys. The evidence also suggests that the US failed to take necessary precautions to ensure that their objective – which in this case appears have been a truck of Al-Shabaab members – was targeted at the appropriate time and with sufficient precision to minimize the likelihood of damage to civilians and civilian objects. Since the targeted vehicle was travelling along the road between Awdheegle and Barire and the vast majority of the area adjacent to the road that runs between the two towns is uninhabited, this raises questions as to why the US military attacked when civilians were in the immediate vicinity, when it appears to have had opportunities to do so in locations where no civilians would be at risk. If feasible precautions were taken civilians may have been spared.

“Given the glaring failure to take feasible precautions to spare civilians, the attack may have been indiscriminate and the fatalities and injuries, and damage caused, unlawful. Indiscriminate attacks that kill or injure civilians can constitute war crimes. The US authorities should ensure an independent, impartial investigation is conducted into this attack.”

In a subsequent FOIA response obtained by journalist Joshua Eaton in May 2019, AFRICOM said it had struck what it says were al Shabaab fighters, in the vicinity of Mubaraak.

The incident occured at 16:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Siidow Abdullahi Mohamed Hassan
40 years old male killed
Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh Yusuf Hussein
25 years old male killed
Mohamed Siidow Abdullahi
8 years old male injured
Khalif Adow Osman
6 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Cartoonist Mike Dawson featured the October 16th event in a graphic novella for Amnesty International
  • Cartoonist Mike Dawson featured the October 16th event in a graphic novella for Amnesty International
  • Cartoonist Mike Dawson featured the October 16th event in a graphic novella for Amnesty International
  • Cartoonist Mike Dawson featured the October 16th event in a graphic novella for Amnesty International

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention that the strike targeted a vehicle between Awdheegle and Bariire. According to Amnesty research the coordinates for the location of the strike are: 1.9922, 44.861, in the village Farah Waeys.

  • Geolocational imagery released by Amnesty, March 2019

    Imagery:
    Amnesty International

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient evidence of civilian harm, Other
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Nov 1, 2018

  • AFRICOM conducted a precision-guided strike that corresponds to the time and location alleged, targeting a vehicle containing al-Shabaab fighters. Social media posts alleged CIVCAS shortly after the event. AFRICOM conducted a CIVCAS allegation assessment regarding this strike and determined it is not likely to have caused the civilian casualties. Information gathered before and after the strike indicated that all individuals injured or killed were members or affiliates of al-Shabaab.

Original strike reports

US Forces

Via email:
"(...) in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in Somalia against al-Shabaab on Mon., Oct. 16 at approximately 4:30 p.m. local Somalia time.

We are currently assessing the results of the strike.

The operation occurred in southern Somalia, about 35 miles southwest of the capital, Mogadishu."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr106

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

العبل, Al Abil, Al Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.612166983, 44.765174917 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

More than fifty ISIS militants were killed in the course of US airstrikes on two ISIS training camps in Qayfa area, Al Bayda governorate, on October 16th 2017, according to a US Central Command statement released on December 20th 2017. At the time of the attacks, CENTCOM had reported killing “dozens” of ISIS fighters. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

This assessment relates to the US attack on Al Abil. A separate assessment covers the US strikes that day on Yakla.

According to the CENTCOM statement issued in December, the strikes constituted the first against ISIS in Yemen, which “used the camps to train militants to conduct terror attacks using AK-47s, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and endurance training”.  The two camps were about twenty miles apart, a US official told ABC News, and were targeted by both manned and unmanned aircraft.

This and earlier official statements confirmed reports that US airstrikes had targeted alleged ISIS militants in the Al Abil area early in the morning of October 16th.

According to several sources, including Al Masdar Online and @demolinari, local residents said that four strikes targeted the camp in Al Abil. Eight strikes reportedly targeted a second camp, in Yakla (YEMT102).

While the final publicised number of deaths in the strikes, according to the US, was “over fifty”, initial US statements indicated that dozens were killed in the course of the strikes across the two camps. Only two sources gave alternative casualty numbers.  One, @MasadryNet, gave an initial report that five militants were killed, while the other, military analyst @DonKlericuzio, said that “about 34” had died.

Since no known sources gave specific casualty figures for the two strike locations, Airwars has split the US casualty figure of “over fifty” between USYEMTr105 and USYEMTr106.  Some sources suggested that other alleged militants may have been wounded in the strikes, leading Airwars to assess that a minimum of two militants were reportedly injured. This figure has also been split between USYEMTr105 and USYEMTr106.

Locals told AFP that the camps were named after prominent ISIS figures. One was reportedly named after Abu Bilal al Harbi, described as the group’s Yemen chief, and the second after former global spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani, who was killed in a US air strike in Syria in August 2016.

According to India TV News, local residents told Xinhua News that “large explosions” were heard and “cars rushed to rescue the victims”.  The original reported Xinhua article could not be found. AFP reported that villagers were prevented by tribal leaders from approaching the area, “for fear of additional strikes”.

According to “tribal sources” reported by Aleshteraky, aircraft had been present in the area for three days prior to the strikes. One week previously, on October 9th, ISIS had released sixteen photos of militants training in the “Abu Muhammad al-Adnani” camp.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    26
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a training camp being struck in the vicinity of Al Abil (العبل) village, for which the generic coordinates are: 14.612166983, 44.765174917. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

U.S. forces have conducted multiple ground operations and more than 120 strikes in 2017 to remove key leaders and disrupt the ability of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS-Yemen to use ungoverned spaces in Yemen as a hub for terrorist recruiting, training, and base of operations to export terror worldwide.

AQAP is one of the terrorist groups most committed to and capable of conducting attacks in America, as assessed by the intelligence and defense communities, while intelligence estimates indicate that ISIS-Y has doubled in size over the past year.

In November, the U.S. conducted 10 strikes across Yemen governorates al-Bayda, and Marib including a strike on Mujahid al-Adani, AQAP Shabwah leader, who was killed Nov. 20 in al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen. Al-Adani, also known as Mohammad Shukri, was a senior leader responsible for planning and conducting terrorist attacks against Yemeni, Coalition and tribal security forces. He exerted significant influence within AQAP's terrorist attack networks, similarly, maintained close ties and access to the group's other senior leaders, and previously served as an AQAP military leader in Aden.

Al-Bayda AQAP facilitator Abu Layth al-Sanaani and three AQAP associates were also killed in the Nov. 20 strike.

Ruwahah al-Sanaani, also an AQAP facilitator, was killed Nov. 2 in Marib Governorate.

In October, a strike Oct. 19 killed Ubaydah al-Lawdari, the Emir of Lawdar, and four associates in al-Bayda Governorate. Al-Lawdari had been known to provide equipment and money in support of AQAP attacks against Coalition forces, posing an increased threat to U.S. interests.

Meanwhile, a series of strikes against two ISIS terror training camps in al-Bayda Oct. 16 killed more than 50 ISIS-Y combatants, disrupting the organization's attempts to recruit and train new fighters.

"The removal of key facilitators in this region will interrupt AQAP's freedom of movement and likely force the group into a reactionary posture, limiting their ability to challenge Yemeni Security Forces and partnered advances," said Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a CENTCOM spokesman.
"U.S. forces also expanded counterterrorism operations in October to encompass both AQAP and ISIS. This parallel targeting effort is required to prevent ISIS-Y from filling the vacuum left by a diminished AQAP footprint or influence in the region," he said.

Ongoing operations pressuring the network have also degraded AQAP's propaganda production, reducing one of the methods for the terror group to recruit and inspire lone wolf attacks across the globe. The al-Masra Newsletter, previously published three times a month, has not been published since July.

Al-Malahim Establishment for Media Production, which produces AQAP's terrorist-inspiring video series, as well as Inspire Magazine, saw a large drop in October. Unable to produce video series and graphic terror-inspiring magazines, AQAP has resorted to using low-tech audio messages.

"U.S. forces have enabled regional counterterrorism partners to regain territory from these terrorists - forcing them to spend more time on survival," said Brown. "These operations have helped to illuminate terrorist networks, making intelligence-gathering, subsequent targeting and follow-on operations increasingly productive and effective.

"Every strike, every raid and every partnered operation advance the defeat of these violent extremist organizations. U.S. forces will continue to use all effective measures to degrade the groups' ability to export terror."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    26
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr105

Incident date

October 16, 2017

Location

يكلا‎, Yakla, Bayda, Yemen

Geolocation

14.598056, 45.060000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

More than fifty ISIS militants were reported killed in the course of US airstrikes on two ISIS training camps in Wald Rabi area, Bayda governorate, on October 16th 2017, according to a US Central Command statement released on December 20th 2017. At the time, the US had reported killing “dozens” of ISIS fighters.

According to the CENTCOM statement released in December, the strikes constituted the first against ISIS in Yemen, which “used the camps to train militants to conduct terror attacks using AK-47s, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and endurance training”. The two camps were about twenty miles apart, a US official told ABC News, and were targeted by both manned and unmanned aircraft.

This and earlier CENTCOM statements confirmed reports that US airstrikes had targeted alleged ISIS militants in the Yakla area early in the morning of October 16th. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

According to several sources, including Al Masdar Online and @demolinari, local residents said that eight strikes targeted the camp in Yakla, the site of several US strikes and a ground raid against alleged AQAP militants in early 2017. Four strikes also reportedly targeted the second camp, in Al-Abil (see USYEMTr106).

While the final publicised number of deaths in the strikes, according to the US, was “over fifty”, initial US statements indicated that dozens were killed in the course of the strikes across the two camps. Only two sources gave alternative casualty numbers.  One, @MasadryNet, gave an initial report that five militants were killed, while the other, counter terrorism analyst @DonKlericuzio, said that “about 34” had died.

Since no known sources gave specific casualty figures for the two strike locations, Airwars has split the US casualty figure of “over fifty” evenly between USYEMTr105 and USYEMTr106. Some sources suggested that other alleged militants may have been wounded in the strikes, leading Airwars to assess that a minimum of two militants were reportedly injured. This figure has also been split between USYEMTr105 and USYEMTr106.

Locals told AFP that the camps had been named after prominent ISIS figures. One was reportedly named after Abu Bilal al Harbi, described as the group’s Yemen chief, and the second after former global spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani, who was killed in a US air strike in Syria in August 2016.

According to India TV News, local residents told Xinhua News that “large explosions” were heard and that “cars rushed to rescue the victims”. The original reported Xinhua article could not be found. AFP reported that villagers were prevented by tribal leaders from approaching the area, “for fear of additional strikes”.

According to “tribal sources” reported by Aleshteraky, aircraft had been present in the area for three days prior to the strikes. One week previously, on October 9th, ISIS had released sixteen photos of militants training in the “Abu Muhammad al-Adnani” camp.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    25
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (20) [ collapse]

  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • A week prior to the strikes, ISIS released sixteen photos of militants training in the "Abu Muhammad al-Adnani" camp, reportedly one of two camps targeted by US airstrikes on October 16th 2017 (Long War Journal, October 16th 2017).
  • CENTCOM's initial report on its first strikes against ISIS in Yemen.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention training camps being struck in the vicinity of Yakla (يكلا‎) village, within the Wald Rabi district (بمديرية ولد ربيع). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Yakla are: 14.598056, 45.060000.

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces
Official source

U.S. forces have conducted multiple ground operations and more than 120 strikes in 2017 to remove key leaders and disrupt the ability of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS-Yemen to use ungoverned spaces in Yemen as a hub for terrorist recruiting, training, and base of operations to export terror worldwide.

AQAP is one of the terrorist groups most committed to and capable of conducting attacks in America, as assessed by the intelligence and defense communities, while intelligence estimates indicate that ISIS-Y has doubled in size over the past year.

In November, the U.S. conducted 10 strikes across Yemen governorates al-Bayda, and Marib including a strike on Mujahid al-Adani, AQAP Shabwah leader, who was killed Nov. 20 in al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen. Al-Adani, also known as Mohammad Shukri, was a senior leader responsible for planning and conducting terrorist attacks against Yemeni, Coalition and tribal security forces. He exerted significant influence within AQAP's terrorist attack networks, similarly, maintained close ties and access to the group's other senior leaders, and previously served as an AQAP military leader in Aden.

Al-Bayda AQAP facilitator Abu Layth al-Sanaani and three AQAP associates were also killed in the Nov. 20 strike.

Ruwahah al-Sanaani, also an AQAP facilitator, was killed Nov. 2 in Marib Governorate.

In October, a strike Oct. 19 killed Ubaydah al-Lawdari, the Emir of Lawdar, and four associates in al-Bayda Governorate. Al-Lawdari had been known to provide equipment and money in support of AQAP attacks against Coalition forces, posing an increased threat to U.S. interests.

Meanwhile, a series of strikes against two ISIS terror training camps in al-Bayda Oct. 16 killed more than 50 ISIS-Y combatants, disrupting the organization's attempts to recruit and train new fighters.

"The removal of key facilitators in this region will interrupt AQAP's freedom of movement and likely force the group into a reactionary posture, limiting their ability to challenge Yemeni Security Forces and partnered advances," said Lt. Col. Earl Brown, a CENTCOM spokesman.
"U.S. forces also expanded counterterrorism operations in October to encompass both AQAP and ISIS. This parallel targeting effort is required to prevent ISIS-Y from filling the vacuum left by a diminished AQAP footprint or influence in the region," he said.

Ongoing operations pressuring the network have also degraded AQAP's propaganda production, reducing one of the methods for the terror group to recruit and inspire lone wolf attacks across the globe. The al-Masra Newsletter, previously published three times a month, has not been published since July.

Al-Malahim Establishment for Media Production, which produces AQAP's terrorist-inspiring video series, as well as Inspire Magazine, saw a large drop in October. Unable to produce video series and graphic terror-inspiring magazines, AQAP has resorted to using low-tech audio messages.

"U.S. forces have enabled regional counterterrorism partners to regain territory from these terrorists - forcing them to spend more time on survival," said Brown. "These operations have helped to illuminate terrorist networks, making intelligence-gathering, subsequent targeting and follow-on operations increasingly productive and effective.

"Every strike, every raid and every partnered operation advance the defeat of these violent extremist organizations. U.S. forces will continue to use all effective measures to degrade the groups' ability to export terror."

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    ISIS - Yemen
  • Belligerents reported killed
    25
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr104

Incident date

October 8, 2017

Location

سعود, Saud archaeological area, Marib, Yemen

Geolocation

15.809762, 45.109005 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike reportedly killed at least four alleged AQAP militants in Raghwan district, Marib governorate, on October 8th 2017. The strike was later confirmed by a US Central Command spokesperson in an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which stated that five AQAP militants were killed by a strike in the area on that day. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm.

Several sources, including Associated Press, suggested that, according to local residents and officials, the strike targeted a car near the Saud archaeological area, burning the vehicle and all those inside. Local sources told Al-Masdar Online the same, suggesting that one of those killed was from the Raghwan district.

While most indicated that five were killed in the strike, one Twitter source, @demolinari, suggested that four AQAP militants were killed. According to a Tweet by analyst @JoshuaKoontz, pro-AQAP sources also suggested that four were killed in the strike.

Some sources reported that one of those killed was an AQAP leader in al-Jawf, whom Xinhua named as Mohammed Ammar al-Adani. According to an anonymous provincial security official spoken with by Xinhua, al-Adani had “come from the southern province of Shabwa and had been hiding in a house in Raghwan for more than a month”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–5

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • US Central Command confirmed that a strike in Raghwan district, Marib, killed five alleged AQAP militants on October 8th 2017 (@demolinari, October 8th 2017).
  • The strike reportedly killed an AQAP leader, Mohammed Ammar al-Adani, along with four others in a car (@demolinari, October 8th 2017).
  • The strike reportedly took place near the Saud archaeological area, Raghwan district of Marib governorate (@Intelyse_Arabia, October 8th 2017)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of the Saud (سعود) archaeological are. @Intelyse_Arabia alleges the location to be within the village of Asdas (أسداس), located south west of Saud. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Saud are: 15.809762, 45.109005.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of the Saud (سعود) archeological site. @Intelyse_Arabia alleges the location to be within the village of Asdas (أسداس), located south west of Saud.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

US Forces

[Email from CENTCOM to Bureau of Investigative Journalism]
Yes. U.S. forces conducted a precision strike against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula near Marib, Yemen, killing five Al Qaeda terrorists on Oct. 8.

In coordination with the government of Yemen, U.S. forces are conducting a series of sustained counterterrorism operations in Yemen against AQAP to degrade the group's ability to hold territory and coordinate external terror attacks.

CENTCOM Media Desk

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4–5

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

USYEMTr102-C

Incident date

September 14, 2017

Location

القوز, Al Qawz junction, Abyan, Yemen

Geolocation

13.908586, 46.137140 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A US drone strike killed at least two alleged AQAP militants on a motorcycle at Al Qawz junction, Mudiyah district of Abyan governorate, on the night of September 14th 2017. However it was also reported that a passing vehicle was damaged, causing civilian injuries.

More than three years later, in response to Airwars publishing its Yemen findings, CENTCOM confirmed that two civilians had been injured in the event.

A local security official and residents told Reuters at the time that three suspected militants were killed in the strike.  According to one source, this was also reported to Xinhua, though the original Xinhua report could not be found.

One Twitter source, @demolinari, instead suggested that two militants were killed in the strike, and named those killed as local AQAP leader Ali Saleh Al-Buhaith Al-Fathani and Haritha Al-Waqari.

@demolinari also reported that a passing vehicle was damaged, causing injuries.  As such, Airwars has assessed that at least one civilian was reportedly injured in the strike.

On November 5th 2020, CENTCOM confirmed that it had injured two civilians in this incident, noting that “Of the information AirWars provided, one strike on September 14, 2017, was assessed to have caused  injuries to two civilians.”

In its May 2018 annual civilian casualty report, the US Department of Defense stated that “there were credible reports of civilian casualties caused by U.S. military actions in Yemen against AQAP and ISIS during 2017”, but did not specify which specific actions these reports referred to.  Overall, the Department of Defense assessed that there were credible reports of “approximately 499 civilians killed and approximately 169 civilians injured during 2017”, as a result of US military actions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • 'Ali Saleh al-Fathani along with his companions killed in a US airstrike in Abyan. They were in a motorcycle in the al-Qoz in eastern Moudiya'
  • According to one Twitter source, alleged AQAP militant Harithah al-Waqari was one of those killed in a reported US drone strike on September 14th 2017 in Abyan (@demolinari, September 16th 2017).
  • According to one Twitter source, alleged AQAP leader Ali Al-Buhaith was one of those killed in a reported US drone strike on September 14th 2017 in Abyan (@demolinari, September 16th 2017).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck at the junction near Al Qawz (القوز) village, east of Mudiyah (موديه). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the Al Qawz junction are: 13.908586, 46.137140.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck at the junction near Al Qawz (القوز) village, east of Mudiyah (موديه).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

US Forces Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Credible / Substantiated
    The investigation assessed that although all feasible precautions were taken and the decision to strike complied with the law of armed conflict, unintended civilian casualties regrettably occurred.
  • Given reason for civilian harm
    No reason given
    Airwars’ assessment of belligerent’s civilian casualty statement
  • Initial Airwars grading
    Confirmed
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    2

Civilian casualty statements

US Forces
  • Nov 5, 2020

  • USCENTCOM conducted a thorough review of the information AirWars provided regarding allegations of potential civilian harm caused by USCENTCOM strikes in Yemen from 2017-2020. Of the information AirWars provided, one strike on September 14, 2017, was assessed to have caused injuries to two civilians. Also, as previously released by USCENTCOM to the public in February 2017, USCENTCOM acknowledged there may have been civilian casualties during a raid on January 29, 2017. The bulk of the information asserted by AirWars, however, did not correspond with dates and locations of U.S. military strikes or raids in Yemen. Other AirWars allegations either did not allege civilian harm or were not assessed as credible upon our review.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Confirmed
    A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
  • Known attacker
    US Forces
  • Known target
    Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (8) [ collapse]