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| Former Guantanamo Bay inmate killed in Yemen by escalating US airstrike campaign | Former Guantanamo Bay inmate killed in Yemen by escalating US airstrike campaign |
| (2 days later) | |
| A former Guantanamo Bay detainee was killed by a US airstrike on Yemen, as an American bombing campaign targeting one of al Qaeda's strongest branches struck more targets in the country over a week than it had in any previous year. | A former Guantanamo Bay detainee was killed by a US airstrike on Yemen, as an American bombing campaign targeting one of al Qaeda's strongest branches struck more targets in the country over a week than it had in any previous year. |
| Yasir al-Silmi died alongside, Usayd al-Adnani, an emir with al Qaeda in the Arabic Peninsula (AQAP) within the Abyan governorate, the Pentagon said. | Yasir al-Silmi died alongside, Usayd al-Adnani, an emir with al Qaeda in the Arabic Peninsula (AQAP) within the Abyan governorate, the Pentagon said. |
| Mr al-Silmi, a Yemeni citizen, spent several months in extrajudicial detainment at the Cuban naval base after being apprehended in Pakistan. But he was repatriated to his homeland in 2009. | Mr al-Silmi, a Yemeni citizen, spent several months in extrajudicial detainment at the Cuban naval base after being apprehended in Pakistan. But he was repatriated to his homeland in 2009. |
| "More than 20 strikes targeted AQAP militants, equipment and infrastructure," said Pentagon Spokesman, Captain Jeff Davis. | "More than 20 strikes targeted AQAP militants, equipment and infrastructure," said Pentagon Spokesman, Captain Jeff Davis. |
| He added that they would "degrade the AQAP's ability to coordinate external terror attacks and limit their ability to use territory seized from the legitimate government of Yemen as a safe space for terror plotting." | He added that they would "degrade the AQAP's ability to coordinate external terror attacks and limit their ability to use territory seized from the legitimate government of Yemen as a safe space for terror plotting." |
| He said: "Targets of the strikes included militants, equipment, infrastructure, heavy weapons systems and fighting positions." | He said: "Targets of the strikes included militants, equipment, infrastructure, heavy weapons systems and fighting positions." |
| The strikes follow a January raid in which 30 Yemeni civilians lost their lives, including 10 women and children, as helicopter gunships bombed militants as they fought with US Navy Seals. | The strikes follow a January raid in which 30 Yemeni civilians lost their lives, including 10 women and children, as helicopter gunships bombed militants as they fought with US Navy Seals. |
| The US considers the group, also known as Ansar al-Sharia, to be the most active and dangerous of the various Al-Qaeda splinter organisations. | |
| Although it has not yet launched any successful attacks in the West, AQAP is responsible for the deadliest terror attack in Yemeni history, killing 120 military personnel with a suicide bomb in 2012. | Although it has not yet launched any successful attacks in the West, AQAP is responsible for the deadliest terror attack in Yemeni history, killing 120 military personnel with a suicide bomb in 2012. |
| The civil war pitting rebels led by the Houthi Shiites against a Sunni coalition government backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States has enabled AQAP to seize significant swathes of territory. | The civil war pitting rebels led by the Houthi Shiites against a Sunni coalition government backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States has enabled AQAP to seize significant swathes of territory. |
| For some time it had control of the strategic port city of Mukalla and reportedly seized some $120 million from the city's bank. | For some time it had control of the strategic port city of Mukalla and reportedly seized some $120 million from the city's bank. |
| American Special Forces helped oust AQAP from Mukalla in 2016, but the group remains the most powerful third party in the conflict. | American Special Forces helped oust AQAP from Mukalla in 2016, but the group remains the most powerful third party in the conflict. |
| The US' main involvement in the war has been supplying bombs to the Saudi-led coalition, although it has also fired directly on the opposition, who are demanding more political power and autonomy for the Shiite religious autonomy. | The US' main involvement in the war has been supplying bombs to the Saudi-led coalition, although it has also fired directly on the opposition, who are demanding more political power and autonomy for the Shiite religious autonomy. |
| Over 10,000 people have died in the conflict, including 4000 civilians. US-made bombs have repeatedly been used to kill civilians in unlawful airstrikes against Yemeni citizens, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). | Over 10,000 people have died in the conflict, including 4000 civilians. US-made bombs have repeatedly been used to kill civilians in unlawful airstrikes against Yemeni citizens, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). |
| The organisation said it was an American bomb which killed 140 people, mainly civilians, in a highly-publicised airstrike on a Houthi funeral last year. | The organisation said it was an American bomb which killed 140 people, mainly civilians, in a highly-publicised airstrike on a Houthi funeral last year. |
| The US approved more than US$20 billion in military sales to Saudi Arabia in 2015 alone, even as the powerful Gulf state has been accused of "deliberately targeting impoverished Yemen’s farms and agricultural industry", by HRW. | The US approved more than US$20 billion in military sales to Saudi Arabia in 2015 alone, even as the powerful Gulf state has been accused of "deliberately targeting impoverished Yemen’s farms and agricultural industry", by HRW. |
| America is now stepping up its own attacks on AQAP, hitting over 40 targets in the last seven days – more than in any previous year. | America is now stepping up its own attacks on AQAP, hitting over 40 targets in the last seven days – more than in any previous year. |
| Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davies said the group had "taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Yemen to plot, direct and inspire terror attacks against the United States and our allies." | Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davies said the group had "taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Yemen to plot, direct and inspire terror attacks against the United States and our allies." |
| He added: "We will continue to target AQAP militants and facilities to disrupt the organization’s plot and protect American lives." | He added: "We will continue to target AQAP militants and facilities to disrupt the organization’s plot and protect American lives." |