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Fierce Fighting as Militants Attack City in Yemen Soldiers and Militants Clash in Yemen City
(about 7 hours later)
SANA, Yemen — Yemeni soldiers killed 15 militants in a fierce battle as fighters linked to Al Qaeda launched a major attack on army, security and government buildings in a southern city, the authorities said Saturday.SANA, Yemen — Yemeni soldiers killed 15 militants in a fierce battle as fighters linked to Al Qaeda launched a major attack on army, security and government buildings in a southern city, the authorities said Saturday.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the army foiled the attack and took control of Sayoun, a city in southern Hadramawt Province. It said that 10 soldiers were killed in the fighting and that others were wounded. Security and military officials said earlier that the attackers had killed 16 soldiers. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the army foiled the attack and took control of Sayoun, a city in southern Hadramawt Province. It said that 10 soldiers were killed in the fighting and that others were wounded.
The attack struck an army headquarters, the central security headquarters, the Central Bank building, the traffic police department, the post office and the agricultural bank. The attackers, however, were unable to storm the army command and the security headquarters because of the fierce resistance put up by the government troops, the officials said. They said the attackers used car bombs at the beginning of their assault. The attack struck an army headquarters, the central security headquarters, the Central Bank building, the traffic police department, the post office and the agricultural bank. Security and military officials said the attackers used car bombs at the beginning of their assault.
The officials said that Jalal Baliedy, a prominent Qaeda leader, led the attack with dozens of militants who entered the city from different directions in several vehicles. They said the fighters split into groups, with each group assigned to attack a certain target.
They identified Mr. Baliedy as a Qaeda leader in the port town of Zanzibar in south-central Yemen. They said he led a group called The Hungry Lions. They said two of the dead militants were from neighboring Saudi Arabia.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists.
The sound of explosions and gunfire terrified residents of Sayoun, many of whom hid inside their homes during the attack.
The United States considers Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, to be the most active branch of the group in the world, and Washington has assisted Yemen’s government with logistics, training and drone attacks. The militants have fought back, targeting government buildings and security forces.
The group is blamed for a number of unsuccessful bomb plots aimed at Americans, including an attempt to blow up an airliner bound for the United States, and a second plot to send mail bombs hidden in toner cartridges on planes headed to the United States.