Al-Qaeda leader killed in U.S. drone strikes in Yemen
- 9 years ago
Originally published on August 31, 2013
Six suspected al Qaeda militants were killed in a presumed U.S. drone strike in Yemen's central al-Bayda province on Friday (August 30). It was reported that two senior leaders of al Qaeda, including Qaed al-Thahab, the top AQAP leader in the country's Baitha province, were among the killed.
The men were reportedly driving in a car in a mountainous region of the central province of Bayda when they were attacked. Sources say eight missiles were launched by two unmanned drone planes targeting vehicle.
According to Reuters, "Yemen is the main stronghold of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), one of the militant group's most aggressive wings. It is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment publicly on the practice.
"Yemen's president said last week that AQAP's leader had vowed in an intercepted phone call to carry out an attack that would "change the face of history", and that this was what had led to the temporary closure of many U.S. and other Western embassies in the Middle East, Africa and Asia earlier in August.
"Restoring stability to Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries which lies next door to the world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, is an international concern.
"Drone attacks have killed at least 40 people in Yemen since late July.
"The Yemeni army, with U.S. backing, last year drove al Qaeda militants and their allies from some of their strongholds, but the militants have since regrouped and mounted attacks on government officials and installations."
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Six suspected al Qaeda militants were killed in a presumed U.S. drone strike in Yemen's central al-Bayda province on Friday (August 30). It was reported that two senior leaders of al Qaeda, including Qaed al-Thahab, the top AQAP leader in the country's Baitha province, were among the killed.
The men were reportedly driving in a car in a mountainous region of the central province of Bayda when they were attacked. Sources say eight missiles were launched by two unmanned drone planes targeting vehicle.
According to Reuters, "Yemen is the main stronghold of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), one of the militant group's most aggressive wings. It is among a handful of countries where the United States acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment publicly on the practice.
"Yemen's president said last week that AQAP's leader had vowed in an intercepted phone call to carry out an attack that would "change the face of history", and that this was what had led to the temporary closure of many U.S. and other Western embassies in the Middle East, Africa and Asia earlier in August.
"Restoring stability to Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries which lies next door to the world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, is an international concern.
"Drone attacks have killed at least 40 people in Yemen since late July.
"The Yemeni army, with U.S. backing, last year drove al Qaeda militants and their allies from some of their strongholds, but the militants have since regrouped and mounted attacks on government officials and installations."
TomoNews is your daily source for top animated news. We've combined animation and video footage with a snarky personality to bring you the biggest and best stories from around the world.
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