U.S. strikes in Yemen based on "unreliable sources" pose great risks: Yemeni analyst

ADEN, Yemen, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. selection of targets in its recent airstrikes in Yemen based on unreliable sources "raises serious concerns about intelligence practices," a Yemeni security analyst told Xinhua recently.

"While professional OSINT (open-source intelligence) can provide valuable insights, amateur analysis without proper verification poses significant risks when used for military operations," said the analyst who requested anonymity.

The analyst was commenting on a report published Wednesday by Iranian media Press TV, saying that the U.S. military had been using amateur OSINT data shared by social media users on virtual platforms, particularly X, to attack civilian facilities in Yemen, falsely identifying them as military targets.

"Following a U.S. strike on Monday near the Yemeni capital that killed eight civilians, social media posts have emerged suggesting that the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) relied on dubious assessments to select targets in Yemen," the report said.

CENTCOM has not commented on specific intelligence gathering methods used in its operations in Yemen.

The United States resumed airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen on March 15, which it said were intended to deter the Houthis from targeting Israel and U.S. ships in the Red and Arabian Seas. ■