Local medics offered new details on yesterday‘s US airstrike against an al-Qaeda camp in southern Yemen, confirming that at least 50 people were killed and around 30 others were wounded in the attack.
One local familiar with the situation said that the planes attacked a line of people who were getting dinner, killing a large number initially and also sparking fires throughout the camp that added to the casualties.
Locals had initial claimed the attack was carried out by Saudi Arabia, though the Pentagon has since confirmed they conducted the attack. None of the slain were identified, though officials are suggesting everyone involved was a member of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
AQAP has been active since 2009, and during the Arab Spring held territory in several tribal areas. The Saudi focus on attacking Shi’ites in the ongoing war has allowed AQAP to seize more territory than ever before, including Mukallah, a major port city.