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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Yemen al-Qaeda: US commandos raid stronghold | Yemen al-Qaeda: US commandos raid stronghold |
| (2 days later) | |
| The US has carried out a commando raid on an al-Qaeda stronghold in central Yemen, killing 14 militants, the military says. | The US has carried out a commando raid on an al-Qaeda stronghold in central Yemen, killing 14 militants, the military says. |
| One US soldier died and three were injured. | One US soldier died and three were injured. |
| Several Apache helicopters were reported to have taken part in the operation in Bayda province. | |
| Three al-Qaeda leaders were among those killed in a battle lasting 45 minutes in a village in Yakla district. Earlier reports suggested a higher death toll. | Three al-Qaeda leaders were among those killed in a battle lasting 45 minutes in a village in Yakla district. Earlier reports suggested a higher death toll. |
| US drones have carried out periodic attacks on al-Qaeda in Yemen. | US drones have carried out periodic attacks on al-Qaeda in Yemen. |
| Local sources earlier said 41 militants and 16 civilians were killed. | Local sources earlier said 41 militants and 16 civilians were killed. |
| A provincial official said the helicopters targeted a hospital, school and mosque. | A provincial official said the helicopters targeted a hospital, school and mosque. |
| Leading al-Qaeda figure Abdul Raouf al-Dhahab was among those killed in the night-time operation in which drones were also used. | Leading al-Qaeda figure Abdul Raouf al-Dhahab was among those killed in the night-time operation in which drones were also used. |
| Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the chaos caused by the conflict in Yemen to entrench its presence in the south and south-east. | Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the chaos caused by the conflict in Yemen to entrench its presence in the south and south-east. |
| For the past two years, the country has been embroiled in fighting between forces loyal to the internationally recognised president, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Shia Houthi rebels. | For the past two years, the country has been embroiled in fighting between forces loyal to the internationally recognised president, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Shia Houthi rebels. |
| Iran rejects accusations of supporting the rebels. | Iran rejects accusations of supporting the rebels. |
| This would be the first such raid since President Donald Trump took office on 20 January. | This would be the first such raid since President Donald Trump took office on 20 January. |
| Analysis by Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent | Analysis by Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent |
| The pre-dawn raid by US Special Operations commandos in Yemen was planned while Barack Obama was still president. But it was President Donald Trump who authorised it, launching a rare operation that put US boots briefly on the ground in a part of Yemen largely controlled by al-Qaeda and its tribal allies. | The pre-dawn raid by US Special Operations commandos in Yemen was planned while Barack Obama was still president. But it was President Donald Trump who authorised it, launching a rare operation that put US boots briefly on the ground in a part of Yemen largely controlled by al-Qaeda and its tribal allies. |
| Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, has been gripped by a seemingly intractable civil war for more than two years. | Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, has been gripped by a seemingly intractable civil war for more than two years. |
| It is also home to a branch of al-Qaeda considered to be one of the most dangerous in the world. The group, thought to number only a few hundred Saudi and Yemeni militants, includes a number of expert bomb-makers who have succeeded in smuggling explosives on board planes three times. | It is also home to a branch of al-Qaeda considered to be one of the most dangerous in the world. The group, thought to number only a few hundred Saudi and Yemeni militants, includes a number of expert bomb-makers who have succeeded in smuggling explosives on board planes three times. |
| The US has carried out frequent missile strikes on al-Qaeda's bases in Yemen using unmanned drones. | The US has carried out frequent missile strikes on al-Qaeda's bases in Yemen using unmanned drones. |