At least 12 people, and by some accounts as many as 15, were killed today in Yemen after being attacked by US drones. The attack targeted vehicles in the nation’s contested Abyan Province.
Preliminary reports indicate that one of the slain was a “wanted militant” named Abdel-Munem al-Fatahani, while local tribesmen said four of them were “al-Qaeda leaders” in the area. The targets were apparently affiliated with either the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) or the Ansar al-Sharia. Reports termed everyone suspects.
The Ansar al-Sharia took over much of the Abyan Province in the middle of 2011. In turn, the Yemeni government responded by launching several offensives in an attempt to retake them. The offensives were extremely bloody, and while the Yemeni military eventually claimed to have taken “most” of the region back, control appears hotly contested.
AQAP confirmed the attack, but insisted that only three members of the group were actually killed, and two others wounded. They did not identify the rest of the dead, but tribal leaders from the area said they did not believe any civilians died in the strike.
Mr. Gingrich – I will use force, including military action to deal with Cuba
Mr. Paul – We are now talking to Russia and China and you want to attack Cuba?!
Mr. Gingrich is now in second place for nominee, Mr. Paul is in last.
Some people just dont learn, its freaking amazing!
The cowards "flying" the drones must have flunked out of flight school to become real aviators. They must really get off on murdering people from the safety of a computer console 10,000 miles away.
I bet AQAP is nothing more than a CIA front.
Drones are the Stukas of the 21st century. They are weapons of terror that will show enormous weaknesses when faced by a capable military.
"Well, they have to be Al Qaeda. You don't think we would blow innocent people to bits, do you?" — Official White Horse Souse
AQAP is a front. It has been set up by a Saudi national, who worked for Saudi intelligence. Their "announcements" are treated with full fledged dignity, as if coming from State Department. There is no such thing even resembling Al-Qaeda in Yemen. This makes zero sense. But what is real is the movement to liberate South Yemen, and regain independence.