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US suffers first combat loss under Trump in Yemen raid on al-Qaida US suffers first combat death under Trump in Yemen raid on al-Qaida
(about 1 hour later)
A US service member has been killed and three others wounded during a raid in Yemen on Sunday that targeted the local branch of al-Qaida, according to US Central Command. The loss is the first known combat death of a US soldier under President Donald Trump’s new administration.A US service member has been killed and three others wounded during a raid in Yemen on Sunday that targeted the local branch of al-Qaida, according to US Central Command. The loss is the first known combat death of a US soldier under President Donald Trump’s new administration.
The gun battle in the rural Yakla district of Bayda province killed a senior leader in Yemen’s al-Qaida branch, Abdulraoof al-Dhahab, along with other militants, local witnesses said. The gun battle in the rural Yakla district of Bayda province killed Abdulraoof al-Dhahab, a senior leader in Yemen’s al-Qaida branch, along with other militants, local witnesses said.
A fourth service member was injured during a “hard landing” in a nearby location, the US military said. The aircraft, a helicopter, according to local residents and officials, was unable to fly afterwards and was intentionally destroyed, US sources added. Another service member was injured during a “hard landing” in a nearby location, the US military said. The aircraft, a helicopter, according to local residents and officials, was unable to fly afterwards and was intentionally destroyed, US sources added.
The Central Command statement said 14 militants from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula were killed in the assault in which US service members captured information that would be likely to “provide insight into the planning of future terror plots”.The Central Command statement said 14 militants from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula were killed in the assault in which US service members captured information that would be likely to “provide insight into the planning of future terror plots”.
Yemeni security and tribal officials said the assault killed three senior al-Qaida leaders. Residents and local officials claimed the dawn raid killed around 30 people, including civilians.Yemeni security and tribal officials said the assault killed three senior al-Qaida leaders. Residents and local officials claimed the dawn raid killed around 30 people, including civilians.
Medical workers at the scene said the dead included10 women and three children. Medical workers at the scene said the dead included 10 women and three children.
The raid is the first in Yemen by the US military since the country descended into civil war nearly two years ago. The raid is the first in Yemen by US troops since the country descended into civil war nearly two years ago.
In a message on its official Telegram account, al-Qaida mourned Dhahab as a “holy warrior” and other dead militants, without specifying how many of its fighters had been killed. In a message on its official Telegram account, al-Qaida praised Dhahab as a “holy warrior” and mourned other dead militants, without specifying how many of its fighters had been killed.
“The operation began at dawn when a drone bombed the home of Abdulraoof al-Dhahab and then helicopters flew up and unloaded paratroopers at his house and killed everyone inside,” said one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity. One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The operation began at dawn when a drone bombed the home of Abdulraoof al-Dhahab and then helicopters flew up and unloaded paratroopers at his house and killed everyone inside.
“Next, the gunmen opened fire at the US soldiers who left the area, and the helicopters bombed the gunmen and a number of homes and led to a large number of casualties.”“Next, the gunmen opened fire at the US soldiers who left the area, and the helicopters bombed the gunmen and a number of homes and led to a large number of casualties.”
A Yemeni security officer and a local official corroborated that account. Fahd, a local resident who asked that only his first name be used, said several bodies remained under debris and that houses and the local mosque were damaged in the attack.A Yemeni security officer and a local official corroborated that account. Fahd, a local resident who asked that only his first name be used, said several bodies remained under debris and that houses and the local mosque were damaged in the attack.
Elsewhere, fierce battles between Yemeni government forces and Shia rebels on the country’s west coast killed more than 100 fighters in 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.Elsewhere, fierce battles between Yemeni government forces and Shia rebels on the country’s west coast killed more than 100 fighters in 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.
The war began in 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels and their allies swept down from the north and captured the capital, Sana’a. A Saudi-led military coalition has been helping government forces battle the rebels for nearly two years. A Saudi-led military coalition has been helping government forces battle the rebels for nearly two years. In 2014, the Shia Houthi rebels and their allies swept down from the north and captured the capital, Sana’a.
The bodies of at least 90 Houthi rebels were taken to a hospital in the Red Sea city of Hodeida, which is controlled by the insurgents, while 19 dead soldiers were taken to the southern port city of Aden, the medical and military sources said.The bodies of at least 90 Houthi rebels were taken to a hospital in the Red Sea city of Hodeida, which is controlled by the insurgents, while 19 dead soldiers were taken to the southern port city of Aden, the medical and military sources said.
The US conducted dozens of drone strikes in Yemen throughout Barack Obama’s presidency to combat al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded as one of the global militant group’s most dangerous branches.The US conducted dozens of drone strikes in Yemen throughout Barack Obama’s presidency to combat al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded as one of the global militant group’s most dangerous branches.
The local al-Qaida unit organised the Charlie Hebdo magazine attack in Paris in 2015 and has repeatedly tried to down US airliners. The local al-Qaida unit organised the Charlie Hebdo magazine attack in Paris in 2015 and has repeatedly tried to bring down US airliners.