U.S. says 14 militants, one American killed in Yemen Al-Qaeda raid
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 29 January 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. says 14 militants, one American killed in Yemen Al-Qaeda raid, 29 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a4b810.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 29, 2017
Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen (file photo)
U.S. officials said 14 militants were killed, along with one U.S. service member, in a commando raid on an Al-Qaeda stronghold in Yemen.
The American death in the January 28 raid is the first known U.S. combat death since President Donald Trump took office last week.
Few details about the incident were released.
An unnamed military official told Reuters that the U.S. special forces raid was authorized by Trump and was aimed at gathering intelligence about Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
The official said American forces did not seize any militants or take any prisoners off-site.
The Pentagon said 14 Al-Qaeda members were killed.
Earlier reports quoted unidentified Yemeni security officials as saying several helicopters took part in the operation in Bayda Province.
AFP reported a provincial official as saying as many as 41 militants and 16 civilians were killed.
A civil war began in Yemen in 2011 that pits Shi'ite Huthi rebels against Al-Qaeda fighters and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi, which was forced out of the capital in 2015 to the southern city of Aden.
Saudi Arabia leads a 10-country coalition fighting the Huthi rebels and Al-Qaeda militants.
The United States announced that it would assist with intelligence and logistics with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It has previously carried out several drone strikes in the country.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
