A suspected US drone strike killed three alleged al-Qaeda members in the Yemeni province of Maarib, AFP reported Tuesday, citing officials from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
“Three Al-Qaeda members were killed in a strike by a drone that is believed to be American,” an unnamed government official said. “The three were in a car in Wadi Obeida when they were targeted by the suspected US strike that killed them immediately.”
The Saudi-backed government still controls most of the Maarib province, but the Houthis took control of some districts in 2021, a year that saw heavy fighting in the area. According to SouthFront, the drone strike took place in government-controlled territory.
Since 2015, the US has backed the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in a conflict that has killed at least 377,000 people, most of whom died as a result of starvation and disease caused by the war and blockade.
But the US still occasionally launches attacks against al-Qaeda in Yemen, known as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), even though the coalition is sided with the terror group against the Houthis.
A report from The Associated Press in 2018 found that the Saudi-UAE coalition hired al-Qaeda members to help fight against the Houthis. The AP report said: “Coalition-backed militias actively recruit al-Qaeda militants, or those who were recently members, because they’re considered exceptional fighters.”
CNN reported in 2019 that US arms sold to the UAE and Saudi Arabia ended up in al-Qaeda’s hands in Yemen.
Right before the Obama administration backed the coalition against the Houthis in March 2015, the US was actually cooperating with the Houthis against AQAP. In January 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US had “forged ties” as part of a strategy to “maintain its fight against a key branch of al Qaeda.”
The MIC must be very happy, they seem to have their fingers in a few different pies…
al qaedas again? i guess they were they taking a break all this time while the 2nd-string ISIS was getting their chance at glory
state sponsored lynching
For little children. That is who we are.
There is no ISIS
There is no ALQAEDA (unvented AQAP name).
The area marked ISIS-Al-Qaeda is actually the remaining separatist forces around the heart of Hadramouth, al-Mukkalah.
The are marked as Saudi controlled — is it? We are up to our gills in this one. What about the contract army we gave to UAE to control part of secessionist terrirory and harrass the rest by calling them names (ISIS ALQAEDA).
It is clear what is going on even for the dumbest. In order to control Bab Al-Mandeb US must do one of the two things. Either prevent Houthis to claim the terrotory of former independent country -North Yemen. OR take control of South Yemen. Than it will NOT MATTER any more if Sana claims independence. US can control South, this Bab-Al-Manded.
There is just a snag. Saudis want the same. Or at least prevent US from achieveing either objective🦯
Why? So damn obvious. Saudis, Susan and Egypt do notvwith US controlling the passage through which all their trade with Asia goes.
Could it be more obvious — MAAREB. Kill “an explosive maker” someone called Al-Hadrami!!! A man from Hadramouth.
Buden administration has doubled up on efforts to get Soudis out of tge area, snd split up secessionists. Those in Mukkala are already under control.
So whatever stories we hear now about us fighting ISIS and ALQAEDA there in South Yemen we should ask questions — like exactly where are we located in the area? Who are allies? Enemies? Has UAE actually left, or joined Saudis or with US?
Saudis seem to have cut a deal with Houthis. The option to control north — and claim legitimacy of unified state is over. Done and dusted, Nobody cares any more who the president is.
Now South is all that remains. But causing some trouble in Hodeidah is a reminder to Saudis hat this is not over,
This cliack and dagger is a vanity project that will not endcwell.