Hadramaut insurgency
Hadramaut insurgency | ||
---|---|---|
Part of the Hadramaut Governorate, Yemen | ||
Status |
Government Victory
|
Yemen
United Arab Emirates
Supported by:
United States
Saudi Arabia
Khalid Batarfi (field commander in Hadramaut) Said Salih Abd-Rabbuh al-Omgy (recruiter and fundraiser)
Muhammad Salih Abd-Rabbuh al-Omgy (facilitator)
Abdallah Faysal Sadiq al Ahdal (tribal leader)
- Abu Ali al Sayari (Deputy of
Major General Abdul Rahman al Halili (WIA)
Faraj Salmin al Bahsani
Mohammed Saeed al Jariri [3]
Brigadier general Musallam Al Rashidi (Commander of UAE Force in Hadhramout)[4]
Abu al-Bara al-Ansari †
- Ansar al-Sharia
- Sons of Hadramaut
- Hisba force
- Other Islamic militants
- Tribal fighters
- 37th Brigade
- Hadrami Elite Force
1+ wounded
282+ captured (18 later released)
2 tons of explosives captured
20 car bombs destroyed
4+ arm catches captured
190+ wounded
691+ wounded
2 captured
3+ armoured vehicles destroyed
1 base destroyed
The Hadramaut insurgency was an
Background
On 24 April, UAE forces, along with Hadi loyalists, and Southern Movement fighters, attacked the de facto capital of Al-Qaeda forces in Yemen, Mukalla, and managed to recapture it after a day of fierce fighting. After that, most of AQAP forces withdrew to Abyan Governorate.[5][6]
Valley clashes and Qoton Raid
One day after the AQAP withdrawal, AQAP fighters attacked 37th brigade, loyal to Hadi in Hadramaut Valley, which killed several AQAP fighters and wounded 5 loyalists.[7] On April 27, most of the AQAP forces of Hadramaut, arrived in Zinjibar.[8] Five days after the AQAP withdrawal, on April 30, Saudi coalition and Hadi loyalists tracked down AQAP fighters in the city of Qoton, just outside of Mukalla, and took over a camp that was in their control. Eight AQAP fighters were captured during the Qoton raid.[9]
Other incidents
On May 4, a southern Movement fighter was killed, and another wounded, and 5 AQAP fighters were captured in a military raid in
Port of Khalaf fighting
On May 12, fighters belonging to ISIL, in coordination with AQAP forces conducted an assault in the port of Khalaf in near Mukalla. The assault began when an ISIL suicide bomber, named Hamza Al Muhajir exploded in a naval base in Khalaf, killing 13 and wounding at least 15. A second suicide bomber struck inside the base, and a third reportedly targeted the home of Second Military District Commander Faraj Salmin, who escaped unharmed. Government forces clashed with militants outside the base in the aftermath of the attacks. ISIL claimed the SVBIED attack that targeted forces at the naval base checkpoint, but the other two attacks remain unclaimed. Government sources attributed the attack at the checkpoint to AQAP.[15][16][17]
Police station bombing
On 15 May 2016, a suicide bomber of ISIL, named Abu al-Bara al-Ansari, exploded himself in the city's police station killing 41 police recruits, and 6 army guards of Hadramaut security chief, General Mubarak al-Oubthani. al-Oubthani was injured, along with more than 60 other police and soldiers.[18][19][20][21][22]
Continued fighting
On May 20, a US drone strike, killed two AQAP officials in Al Abr District. According to a tribal source, the air strike targeted the vehicle carrying two members of the Mahashma tribe, Ali Rafsan al-Awbashi and Mubarak Salem Qaisl al-Hawair.[23] On May 22, Hadi loyalist forces conducted a raid in an AQAP bastion little outside of Mukalla, that killed 13 fighters. An hour after the raid, 3 additional AQAP fighters were killed when they blew up a bomb they were preparing to use, near the place of the raid.[24] On June 3, Hadrami elite forces captured an Al-Qaeda cell inside Mukalla. Three of the men captured were explosive experts from Pakistan. On June 6, suspected AQAP militants riding a motorcycle assassinated army officer.
June Mukalla attacks
On June 28, there were at least seven separate attacks in Mukalla.[25] The attacks targeted fasting Yemeni soldiers during Ramadan, not long before they were about to break their fasting.[26] The attack not only killed soldiers, but also civilians, who were mostly passers-by. The first attack was a suicide bombing. It occurred when a suicide bomber blew himself up after he asked soldiers if he could eat with them. Two suicide bombers were involved in the second attack. They also approached soldiers before blowing themselves up in two separate attacks. The fourth attack occurred when two more suicide bombers blew themselves up at the entrance to an army camp.[27] Another suicide bomber forced his way into an area where soldiers were preparing to break their fast and eat. He blew himself up and caused a substantial amount of damage. Other bombings occurred when attackers posed as distributors for Iftar, handing out food before blowing themselves up.[26] Other attacks are also said to have occurred when militants hid bombs in food boxes, and other militants also stormed a police station. Gun-battles broke out throughout the city. ISIL claimed responsibility. All of the attacks killed more than 43 Hadi loyals, and injured 37 people.[28]
July attacks and call for surrender
On July 18, two suicide bombers targeted government checkpoints manned by soldiers loyal to President Hadi in al Ghabr and al Burum districts, al Mukalla city, killing 16 soldiers, and wounding another 34. Four civilians were also killed. On July 29, military commanders of Hadramaut loyal to Hadi, called for AQAP and ISIL fighters to surrender themselves to coalition and local authorities in a time period of two weeks, and if they do so, they will be pardoned and be given general amnesty.[29]
AQAP attempted to assault and other incidents
On August 2, AQAP forces attempted a major assault to retake they former capital, Mukalla, but Hadi government security forces and Saudi-led coalition forces disrupted the coordinated attack. AQAP militants attempted to attack the port with artillery and machine guns, while others approached the port by boats. Hadi-allied forces arrested some of the attackers, but others escaped. On September 20, Hadi loyalists arrested a man who acted as a judge for AQAP during their reign in Mukalla, but did not disclosed his name.
Al Bahish grove fighting and other incidents
On November 8, Hadrami Elite Forces, clashed with AQAP militants in western al Mukalla City, killing six AQAP militants, and capturing another 4. Saudi-led coalition warplanes supported the elite forces during the clashes.[35] On November 9, the Hadrami Elite forces attacked AQAP militants in al Bahish grove near Mayfa'a Hajar town, southwest of al Mukalla city, with support of Saudi-led coalition warplanes. Hadrami Elite forces raided the AQAP stronghold following intelligence reports indicating that AQAP militants were regrouping in al Bahish grove. The clash lasted almost one full day. The military source claimed that Hadrami forces killed more than 30 AQAP militants and suffered four casualties. One day later however, AQAP statements said that claims that Hadrami Elite forces killed more than 20 AQAP militants in al Bahish grove, were untrue, and claimed that killed 28 Hadrami fighters and reported that Saudi-led coalition Apaches killed three AQAP militants. Social media accounts also claimed that AQAP has recovered from its withdrawal from Yemen's coastal cities and has reconstituted.[36] One day after the clashes, Hadrami elite managed to track down the assailants, and captured 11 of them. On November 30, a US drone strike, killed 3 AQAP fighters in Al Abr District.[37] On December 8, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on two Yemeni citizens and a Yemeni-based charity for financially supporting AQAP. Al Hasan Ali Ali Abkar is an AQAP commander for Ma'rib and al Jawf governorates who has been affiliated with the AQAP since 2015. Abdallah Faysal Sadiq al Ahdal is a senior tribal leader in Hadramawt governorate who participated in an AQAP cell in Ash Shahir, Hadramawt and has supported AQAP since 2009. Al Ahdal was also the president of the Rahmah Charitable Organization, which is located in Ash Shahir and has acted as a front to finance AQAP.[38][39] On December 27, AQAP fighters ambushed the director general of the Shibam District in Shibam, Faraj Naji, wounding him, and killing two of his aids, his brother, Saleh Faraj Naji, and his cousin.[40]
Low level insurgency, formation of STC, and battle of Daw'an
Civilians protested around al Mukalla airport, on January 9, 2017 in response to alleged arbitrary detentions conducted by the Hadhrami Elite Forces. The Hadhrami Elite Force, reportedly accused the detainees of terrorist activities. Protesters are calling on the UAE to ensure the release of innocent detainees. Yemeni officials have released contradictory statements that refused to provide evidence for the suspects' detention and at times denied the existence of the detainees. Tribal militias also blocked the main road connecting
Fighting in Daw'an and other incidents
On June 12, AQAP forces attacked the Hadrami Elite forces base in Daw'an, and heavy fighting commenced. The Hadrami Elite force stated that they killed more than 10 AQAP fighters, and captured dozens more, but two of its soldiers were killed, and 16 were wounded. The Hadrami officials stated that "attackers set off two car bombs outside the camp, but our soldiers foiled the attack and managed to secure the camp and we are still pursuing those who have escaped in nearby farms," the official told Reuters by phone.[63][64]
Operation Al Faisal
On February 17, 2018 Hadrami Elite Forces, backed by heavy UAE aerial support, launched
Operation Black Mountains
On 28 April, the Yemeni Army announced "Operation Black Mountains" against Al-Qaeda in the northern areas of Hadramaut.[74] On 29 April 2018, the Yemeni military units backed by the United Arab Emirates reported recapturing the Amed, Dhalia, Hajer, and Yabouth districts from Al-Qaeda.[75]
See also
- Outline of the Yemeni Crisis, revolution, and civil war (2011-present)
- Timeline of the Yemeni Crisis (2011–present)
References
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