U.S. Airstrikes Hit Al-Qaeda in Yemen

Strikes Target AQAP Terrorists

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes over eastern Yemen during the weekend of 1-2 April, targeting the sites of extremist group al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, director of Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters:

We continue to target [al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] in Yemen, and this is done in the interest of disrupting a terror organization that presents a very significant threat to the United States.

70 Airstrikes in Yemen To Date

During the weekend in Yemen’s Shabwah governorate, the precision airstrikes targeted al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula terrorists, as well as the terrorists’ infrastructure, fighting positions and equipment, the spokesman said.

The airstrikes follow the late-January U.S. raid in Yemen during which a U.S. service member died. From Feb. 28 through last week, some 50 airstrikes were conducted, Davis noted.

The weekend airstrikes, which were largely unmanned, bring the total to 70, he said.

Source: US Department of Defense

Photo: USAF MQ-1 Predator UAV (drone) by Lt Col Leslie Pratt (USAF, 2008)