US special forces kill seven al-Qaeda suspects in Yemen
US special forces kill seven al-Qaeda suspects in Yemen
The raid took place in Marib province in the early hours of Tuesday where al-Qaeda are active, and was conducted with the support of Yemeni government authorities
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Security forces ride on the back of a patrol truck in Sana'a [Getty]
US forces have carried out a ground raid on an al-Qaeda compound in Yemen, killing seven militants, the Pentagon said late Monday.
The raid took place in Marib province in the early hours of Tuesday local Yemeni time and was conducted with the support of Yemeni government authorities.
"During this operation, US forces killed seven AQAP (al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) militants through a combination of small arms fire and precision airstrikes," Centcom, the US military command in the Middle East, said in a statement.
"Raids such as this provide insight into AQAP's disposition, capabilities and intentions, which will allow us to continue to pursue, disrupt, and degrade AQAP."
The United States has increased attacks against AQAP - which has taken advantage of the chaos in the impoverished country - since President Donald Trump took office in January.
Read also: Trigger warning: Al-Qaeda starts 'jihadi book club' in Yemen
That has included an ill-fated raid against AQAP in January that left multiple civilians, including nine children, and a US Navy SEAL dead.
The raid was the first authorised by Trump, who drew criticism after he blamed "the generals" for having "lost" Navy SEAL Ryan Owens.
Earlier this month, a US civil rights group asked a court to force the US government to disclose more information about the January raid, after filing a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court.
Washington regards AQAP to be the most dangerous branch of the extremist group.
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