Southern Abyan Offensive (2016)

Southern Abyan Offensive (2016) Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) The territory that AQAP seized during the offensive showed in dark grey, surrounded by black lines. Date 2-20 February 2016 (18 days) Location Shuqrah and Ahwar, Abyan Governorate Yemen Result AQAP victory AQAP united its western and eastern parts of its Emirate Belligerents Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen AQAP Yemen People's Committees Popular resistance Commanders and leaders Abu Hamza al Zinjibari †[1][2] Tawfiq Belaidi Sheikh Mazen al-Aqrabi † (Popular resistance unit senior commander) Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties and losses Unknown 3 killed, 3 captured[3] 35-37 soldiers captured in the aftermath, 17-20 of them executed[4]

The Southern Abyan Offensive reference to the 2016 offensive that AQAP launched in late February, and ends with the victory of AQAP, as Yemeni tribal fighters loyal to president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, driven out of the Abyan Governorate.

The offensive

The AQAP was beginning to take parts of other remaining areas of southern Abyan from the beginning of February, when they entered Ahwar and other towns.^[5] The major offensive began in the dawn of the 20 February, with the AQAP first taking Ahwar, then Shuqrah, in one day fighting, that resulted to the death of 3 Hadi government loyalists. Also in the same day, AQAP attacked the new base of the Hadi government in the port city of Aden, killing one tribal leader and one of his bodyguards. After the tribal fighters abandoned the southern Abyan, and headed for the north, AQAP set up their flags in the government building, establishing a sharia court, and an Emirate, that is led by Tawfiq Belaidi, the brother of Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari, who was killed in a U.S drone strike on 3 February.^[6][7][8]

Strategic importance

Southern Abyan is located in a region with very much strategically importance for AQAP, because of its geographical connection with the coastal city of Al Mukalla, the headquarters of AQAP. Al Mukalla was seized by the AQAP in summer of 2015, the first major victory of AQAP since the beginning of the war.^[9][10][11]

Aftermath

In 8 April 2016, more than 35 Hadi Yemeni government soldiers were captured by AQAP soldiers in Ahwar. 17 or more than 20 of them were executed by firing squad, with the others being wounded but still alive, and with others believed to have escaped and get to safety out of Ahwar. The soldiers were travelling from Aden to Al Mahrah Governorate via Ahwar, and during hair passing in Ahwar they have been ambushed. One day later, in 9 April, AQAP denied that its fighters executed the soldiers, blaming a local armed fighter named Ali Aqeel. "We entered Ahwar around two months ago to chase this corrupt individual and his gang," the statement said.^[12][13]

References

1. "Gulf of Aden Security Review - February 4, 2016 - Critical Threats". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
2. "Qaeda tightens its grip on south Yemen coast". Yahoo News. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
3. AFP (2016). "Qaeda kills three in sweep of Yemen's south". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
4. "Yemen conflict: 'At least 15 government troops' killed". BBC News. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
5. http://www.criticalthreats.org/gulf-aden-security-review/gulf-aden-security-review-february-8-2016?mini=calendar-view/2016-02
6. Reuters Editorial (20 February 2016). "Al Qaeda militants seize southern Yemen town, kill militia leader: residents". Reuters. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
7. "Another town in southern Yemen reportedly falls to AQAP". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
8. "Al-Qaeda captures strategic Yemen town, kills militia leader". RT International. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
9. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/02/20/Al-Qaeda-seize-southern-Yemen-town.html
10. "OSINT Summary: AQAP increases control over coastal route in Yemen's Abyan". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
11. "Al-Qaeda Seized Ahwar Town in Yemen's Southern Abyan Province". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
12. "Yemen: Gunmen ambush troops, execute 20 by firing squad". Retrieved 23 April 2016.
13. Reuters Editorial (9 April 2016). "Suspected Al Qaeda militants execute 17 Yemeni government soldiers". Reuters. Retrieved 23 April 2016.