25 civilians killed in U.S. anti-terror raid in Yemen

25 civilians killed in U.S. anti-terror raid in Yemen (Photo by Karte: NordNordWest, Lizenz: Creative Commons by-sa-3.0 de [CC BY-SA 3.0)

At least nine women, six children, including eight-year-old daughter of former al-Qaida leader Anwar Al-Awlaqi, and 10 men were killed in the raid which was carried out at dawn in the Yakla village within the Walad Rabi’e district in the town of Qaifa, Baida, the sources said.

Around 10 al-Qaida militants were killed in the raid, the sources added. The authorities have declined to comment.

The U.S. has increased its drone operations in Yemen since the civil war erupted in late 2014 after the Houthi militia with support from the former president seized power.

The National Organization of Drone Victims in Yemen said that in every U.S. drone strike or anti-terror operation, there are civilian casualties.

The organization documented 27 drone strikes in Yemen in 2016 in which around 142 people including many civilians were killed.

The drone strikes in 2016 were carried out in Marib, Shabwa, Abyan, Hadramout and Baida provinces, the organization said.