Five Civilians Killed in Yemen Raid

May 23, 2017

Reprieve has learned that five civilians were killed in the raid by US Navy SEALs overnight. It is thought that at least two al-Qaeda fighters were also killed.

This contradicts the version of events put forward by the US military, which claimed seven militants were killed.

Reprieve has spoken to sources from the village of Al-Jubah in Marib province, Yemen who witnessed the raid. They confirmed the names of the five dead as:

Nasser Ali Mahdi Al-Adhal

Al-Ghader Saleh Salem Al-Adhal

Saleh Al-Taffaf

Yasser Al-Taffaf Al-Adhel

Shebreen Saeed Salem Al-Adhal

None of them were fighting for al-Qaeda. One of those killed, Nasser al-Adhal, was around 70 years of age and partially blind. According to witnesses, he was shot when he tried to greet the Navy Seals, mistaking them for guests arriving in the village.

The four other villagers were killed when they started to argue with the Navy Seals after the shooting of Nasser al-Adhal. Six villagers were seriously injured, including another elderly man who was around 69-years-old.

Al-Qaeda fighters gathering nearby, who are thought to have been the original target of the raid, were alerted by the gunshots in the village and firefight ensued in which at least two of them were killed. The Navy SEALs then left with the help of air support from a helicopter.

Commenting, Kate Higham, Head of the Assassinations Programme at Reprieve said:

“This new flawed raid by President Trump shows the US is not capable of distinguishing a terrorist from an innocent civilian. When even a 70-year-old is shot dead, it is clear these attacks are not targeted or precise. President Trump must order an immediate investigation into what went wrong and halt all raids and drone strikes before more innocent Yeminis are killed.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Reprieve is an international human rights organization. Reprieve’s London office can be contacted on: info@reprieve.org.uk or +44 (0)7768 558435. Reprieve US, based in New York City, can be contacted on: katherine.oshea@reprieve.org, or +1 917 855 8064.

2. For access to the images taken at the scene of the raid please email: info@reprieve.org.uk

3. The US military have confirmed the raid occurred: http://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/1190002/us-forces-conduct-counter-terrorism-raid/