Drone Attacks Continue in Yemen; 5 Dead in Strike

Photo: Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Drone Attacks Continue in Yemen; 5 Dead in Strike

A US drone strike killed five people in a Southern Province of Yemen late Thursday morning, according to anonymous Yemeni security officials.

The officials offered no word on further casualties or details on the identities of the victims.

The US has not commented on the attack; however, US drone strikes have become increasingly common in the region. The Obama administration approved 'signature' strikes in Yemen earlier this year. The strikes target suspected al-Qaida militants in Yemen but are done so even when suspects' identities are unknown, making it difficult to decipher between militant and civilian, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

A report released in September by researchers at the Stanford and NYU schools of law showed US drone policy is "terrorizing" civilians around the world and that its overall impact is "counterproductive" for international security and human rights.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalismreports that over 160 civilians have been killed by US drones strikes in Yemen so far, including 34 children.

Join the Movement: Become Part of the Solution Today

We're optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter counts.

Your contribution supports this new media model—free, independent, and dedicated to uncovering the truth. Stand with us in the fight for social justice, human rights, and equality. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.