(Newser) – A recent US drone strike went horribly awry, killing 13 civilians in Yemen, including three women, the Yemeni Defense Ministry tells CNN. "This was one of the very few times when our target was completely missed," the official said. "It was a mistake, but we hope it will not hurt our anti-terror efforts in the region." Families of the victims are vowing to retaliate, and have rallied hundreds of gunmen to their cause.

The families have closed several main roads, and are demanding Yemen's government explain the attacks within 48 hours. They tried carrying the victims' corpses to Sanaa to lay them on President Abdurabu Hadi's doorstep in protest, but they were turned back by security forces. "You want us to stay quiet while our wives and brothers are being killed for no reason," one man said. "This attack is the real terrorism." (Read more Yemen stories.)

