Trump’s Yemen Strike Killed 61 Immigrants and No Combatants

A bombshell investigation has confirmed that a 2019 U.S. drone strike in Yemen, authorized by former President Donald Trump, killed 61 civilians—zero combatants. The attack, intended to target Al-Qaeda, instead slaughtered displaced families, including women and children, exposing fatal flaws in U.S. military intelligence and the brutal toll of covert warfare.

The Deadly Mistake: A Drone Strike on Innocents

On January 29, 2019, a U.S. drone obliterated a remote village in Yemen’s Al-Bayda province based on faulty intelligence claiming an Al-Qaeda hideout. Instead, the missiles struck a group of Ethiopian and Somali migrants escaping poverty and conflict, resting on their way to Saudi Arabia for work.

Eyewitnesses described charred bodies and chaos. Survivors recounted watching loved ones burn alive, with many dying later due to Yemen’s crippled healthcare system amid its ongoing civil war.

Who Were the Victims?

The investigation by Mwatana (Yemeni human rights group) and Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) found:
– 34 Ethiopian migrants
– 27 Somali migrants
– At least 12 women and 9 children

“There were no terrorists here—just starving people seeking survival,” said a local tribal leader.

U.S. Denial and a History of Civilian Casualties

The Pentagon initially called the strike “successful,” claiming it killed a “high-value terrorist.” Yet no evidence of militants emerged.

This fits a broader pattern:
– Under Trump, drone strikes in Yemen surged, with 330% more civilian deaths than under Obama (per Bureau of Investigative Journalism).
– “Signature strikes”—attacks based on behavior, not confirmed identities—increased under relaxed Trump-era rules.

Will the U.S. Admit Fault?

Despite irrefutable evidence, the Pentagon has:
✅ No apology
✅ No compensation
✅ No policy changes

Human rights groups demand accountability. Radhya Al-Mutawakel (Mwatana) states: “The U.S. hides behind secrecy while families bury their children.”

Can Biden Fix Drone Warfare?

As the Biden administration reviews U.S. drone policies, advocates push for:
🔹 Stricter intelligence checks
🔹 Transparent investigations
🔹 Reparations for victims

Yet for the 61 lives lost, justice remains out of reach.

Key Takeaway

This strike underscores the dark side of remote warfare: when bad intel meets minimal oversight, civilians pay the price. Without reform, history will repeat.

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