US Strikes Kill Nine Al-Qaeda Members in Southern Yemen

Recent U.S. drone strikes in southern Yemen's Abyan province targeted suspected Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) hideouts, resulting in the deaths of between five and nine militants, including a local leader. The strikes, conducted in coordination with Yemeni government forces, hit mountainous areas known for AQAP activity and were aimed at sites used for launching attacks against government troops. While local tribal leaders have disputed some claims, stating that tribal elements unaffiliated with AQAP were targeted, security sources confirm the elimination of multiple AQAP members. AQAP, considered the most dangerous branch of Al-Qaeda, has grown amid Yemen's ongoing civil war, which has created a power vacuum exploited by extremist groups. The conflict, involving the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition, has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of deaths. The U.S. recently agreed to a ceasefire with the Houthis, ending weeks of intense strikes, but counterterrorism efforts against AQAP continue in regions like Abyan.