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Killing of Jabir al-Shabwani
The killing of Jabir al-Shabwani took place on May 25, 2010 in the Wadi Obeida area of Marib, when a drone apparently targeting Al Qaeda operatives killed six people, including deputy governor of the Marib Province Jabir al-Shabwani. The Yemeni government took responsibility for the attack, despite widespread belief that the Yemeni Air Force lacked drones. The Yemeni army said that they intended to bomb the farm where the Al Qaeda operatives reportedly intended to meet at, but instead hit the deputy governor’s car as it approached the building. al-Shabwani was seen as a mediator who attempted to convince Al Qaeda militants to surrender.

Incident
Jabir al-Shabwani was the deputy governor of the Marib province who, according to Yemeni officials, attempted to contact Al Qaeda members and convince them to surrender. According to Jabir al-Shabwani’s father, he was given the duty to informally negotiate with al Qaeda operatives in Marib on behalf of the Yemeni government. The Yemeni government provided the United States with information about a potential gathering of al Qaeda operatives at a location in the Wadi Obeida area of Marib, and the White House, military leaders, and the ambassador to Yemen authorized a drone strike. Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh quickly approved the strike, citing intelligence reports that Al Qaeda suicide bombers might be planning an attack on the Yemeni capital city Sanaa. According to local sources, the target was likely a farm housing al Qaeda operative Mohammed Saeed bin Jaradan. al-Shabwani, along with some bodyguards, intended to meet bin Jaradan as part of his mission to convince al Qaeda operatives to surrender on May 25, 2010. Several U.S. military officials claimed that they did not have knowledge that al-Shabwani would be present at the drone target site nor were aware of his mission to convince al Qaeda operatives to surrender. On May 25, 2010, the drone launched a missile at al-Shabwani’s car instead of the intended target of the farm house. al-Shabwani and five of his bodyguards were killed.

Responses
Both US and Yemeni officials reacted negatively to news of al-Shabwani’s death. Yemeni president Abdullah Saleh was described by Yemeni officials as being privately furious and concerned that news of the provincial governor’s death would spark anti-American backlash in his country. White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan angrily demanded answers. Some US officials were unapologetic of the unintended killing and called al-Shabwani’s activities suspicious. . Members of the Abida tribe, to which al-Shabwani belonged, reportedly attacked police centers in and outside of Marib city.

Some US military officials alleged that Yemeni intelligence had intentionally hidden details about al-Shabwani’s anticipated presence at the target site in hopes that he would have been a casualty. al-Shabwani was a political rival to Yemeni president Saleh, who reportedly feuded with members of President Saleh’s family. Yemeni intelligence reports about the meeting of al-Qaeda operatives in Marib did not make any mention of al-Shabwani, and counterterrorism advisor John Brennan did not learn about the deputy governor’s mission until after his death. The Yemeni government denied allegations that they had co-opted the counter-terrorism campaign to eliminate a poltical rival. One senior Yemeni official in Washington claimed to be unaware that al-Shabwani would be at the location and claimed that al-Shabwani told no one. This claim was disputed by al-Shabwani’s father, who claimed that the government had sent the deputy governor there to negotiate with terrorists. President Saleh and the Yemeni security services both have a history with collaborating and making deals with jihadists, as opposed to confronting them. However, the most widely accepted explanation is that US and Yemeni officials failed to sufficiently coordinate the attack. Saleh did not end US clandestine operations in Yemen, but the US paused drone strikes in Yemen for one year.

Al Qaeda used the incident to create propaganda.

Oil Pipeline Attack
A crude oil pipeline flowing from Maarib to the Red Sea coast was attacked by armed members of the Abida tribe in apparent retaliation to the death of al-Shabwani. Fifteen people were injured and shipping companies noted that there was no impact on exports.