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Affiliate of Al Qaeda Seizes Major Yemeni City, Driving Out the Military Affiliate of Al Qaeda Seizes Major Yemeni City, Driving Out the Military
(35 minutes later)
AL MUKALLA, Yemen — Militants from Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen tightened their grip on this coastal city in the country’s south on Friday, a day after they seized crucial government buildings. The militants used mortar fire to drive government soldiers out of two local military bases, leaving the city essentially undefended, according to witnesses.AL MUKALLA, Yemen — Militants from Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen tightened their grip on this coastal city in the country’s south on Friday, a day after they seized crucial government buildings. The militants used mortar fire to drive government soldiers out of two local military bases, leaving the city essentially undefended, according to witnesses.
Residents fled to the outskirts of the city, Al Mukalla, as military commanders and their troops abandoned their posts, leaving behind American-made Humvee vehicles and other equipment to be seized by looters or the advancing fighters from the affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Residents fled to the outskirts of the city, Al Mukalla, on Friday as military commanders and their troops abandoned their posts, leaving behind American-made Humvee vehicles and other equipment to be seized by looters or the advancing fighters from the affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
The storming of Al Mukalla, Yemen’s fifth-largest city, was the group’s boldest attack since the start of a Saudi Arabia-led military offensive against the Houthi movement 10 days ago. The ease with which the militants captured large parts of the city highlighted fears that they will exploit Yemen’s escalating chaos and capture other towns and cities. The storming of Al Mukalla, Yemen’s fifth-largest city, was the group’s boldest attack since the start of a military offensive led by Saudi Arabia against the Houthi movement 10 days ago. The relative ease with which the militants captured large parts of the city raised fears of a broader expansion by the Sunni extremists, who have proved adept in the past at exploiting turmoil in Yemen to capture territory.
The Saudi-led military action is aimed at driving the Houthis, a former rebel movement from northern Yemen, out of territory they have captured over the last eight months, and at restoring Yemen’s exiled president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, to power. A Saudi military spokesman said on Friday that the effort was making progress, and that the Houthi units were increasingly isolated from their leadership and consumed with internal squabbles. Saudi officials have said their military action was aimed at driving the Houthis, a former rebel movement from northern Yemen, out of territory they had captured over the last eight months, and at restoring Yemen’s exiled president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, to power. A Saudi military spokesman said on Friday that the effort was making progress, and that the Houthi units were increasingly isolated from their leadership and consumed with internal squabbles.
But the Houthis, who already control Sana, the capital, have been able to advance across the country and are now fighting for control of Aden, Yemen’s second-largest city, which lies west of Al Mukalla along the southern coast. In an effort to prop up local fighters who are resisting the Houthis, the Saudi military airdropped boxes of weapons and ammunition into the city on Friday, according to local media reports. But the Houthis, who already control Sana, the capital, have proved stubborn foes, killing at least three Saudi soldiers during border skirmishes. They have been able to advance across Yemen and are now fighting for control of Aden, the second-largest city, which lies west of Al Mukalla along the southern coast. In an effort to prop up local fighters who are resisting the Houthis, the Saudi military airdropped boxes of weapons and ammunition into the city on Friday, according to local media reports.
There was no sign on Friday that either the Houthis or the Saudis, consumed with fighting each other, were rushing to aid residents of Al Mukalla as the Qaeda affiliate advanced. Relief agencies have warned about the quickly escalating humanitarian cost of the war. The United Nations humanitarian relief coordinator, Valerie Amos, said on Thursday that more than 500 people had been killed in fighting over the last two weeks, including more than 90 children. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced, amid increasing shortages of food and medicine, she added.
Over the last two days, the militants have taken control of the security headquarters in the city and raided the central bank. They also attacked Al Mukalla’s main prison, freeing hundreds of inmates including a senior leader of the Qaeda group. Aden has been shaken by the worst of the fighting, which has killed dozens of civilians. Medical workers have also been caught up in the violence. The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that two brothers who had been working for the Yemen Red Crescent Society were shot dead Friday, as they shuttled wounded people to an ambulance.
The city was left in a state of “panic and fear,” said a resident who only gave his first name, Muhammed. “It is hard to believe that Mukalla could be controlled this quickly by Al Qaeda, amidst the complete absence of the security forces,” he said. Residents of Aden have had difficulty fleeing the incessant clashes. The Chinese government was able to evacuate 225 foreigners from 10 countries on Thursday by sea aboard a Chinese Navy ship, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The residents of Al Mukalla were left to fend for themselves on Friday, with no reports of Saudi military action to dislodge the militants.
Over the last two days, the militants have taken control of the security headquarters in the city and raided the central bank, finding a windfall there, by witness accounts. One Yemeni official, citing treasury officials, put the amount the militants retrieved at tens of millions of dollars. They also attacked Al Mukalla’s main prison, freeing hundreds of inmates including a senior leader of the Qaeda group.
The city was left in a state of “panic and fear,” said a resident who gave only his first name, Muhammed. “It is hard to believe that Mukalla could be controlled this quickly by Al Qaeda, amidst the complete absence of the security forces,” he said.