The army in Yemen has been working hard to uproot Al-Qaeda from its soil. Offensives during this weekend have reported killing at least 40 suspected Al-Qaeda militants, as well as injuring dozens of other fighters. Yemen’s Defense Department stated that most of the Al-Qaeda militants are foreign nationals using Yemen as their base of operation for terror. Suspected militants have been determined to come from places such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and other sympathetic Muslim countries. Yemen has taken a strong stance to fight against the Al-Qaeda forces in its lands, so that they can maintain their country’s credibility as a cooperative country.
The conflict between the Yemen Army and Al-Qaeda has been extraordinarily deadly this week, as an Al-Qaeda ambush on an army convoy cost the lives of 18 soldiers, and placed many more in captivity. In retaliation for the blood shed by the Army this week, forces took part in a joint bombardment of suspected hideouts in the Shabwa province of Yemen this weekend. A combination of ground soldiers, artillery bombardment, and aircraft strikes took its toll on the Al-Qaeda rebels hiding in the area.
Yemen has long been known to be a hotbed for Al-Qaeda leaders and soldiers. The country’s physical location is a strategic spot for those who wish to establish a sphere of influence in the Arab world. Yemen has officially not taken sides with Al-Qaeda, and has been working hard to exterminate those forces that it sees as linked to the terrorist organization. Al-Qaeda forces not only pose a threat to the people of Yemen, but also to all surrounding countries. It will take much more work on the part of the Army in Yemen to uproot the terrorists all together, but it has been made known that their presence is not appreciated and cannot be tolerated.
Al-Qaeda still maintains a strategic control of areas in the Southern part of Yemen, making it difficult for Army forces to clear them from the area. There are even many locals who have made deals with Al-Qaeda to provide them protection, and pass along information for their benefit. For the past 3 years it has been tougher than ever to get a stronghold back in the Southern area for the army.
Drone strikes from US Forces have also been instrumental in taking out key targets in Yemen, along with cooperation of the country’s military. The somewhat joint operations have taken the lives of more than a few well-known Al-Qaeda leaders who have been using Yemen as their base of operations. The strikes have been criticized globally by civilians and governments alike, but their efforts are generally much appreciated by the Yemen commanders who rely on that support to carry out dangerous missions that would otherwise cost innocent lives of their own soldiers.
Yemen Army Kills 40 Al-Qaeda Militants In Sustained Attacks.
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