Yemen army pushes into al-Qaeda stronghold

17 May 2012, 11:03 pm   -   Source: AAP

Continued fighting in Yemen's south has pushed back al-Qaeda insurgents but the military is wary of a counterattack.

Yemeni troops battling al-Qaeda fighters in the country's south have forced them to retreat but military officials say the push in a major southern city is going slowly because of concerns the militants could stage a surprise counterattack.

The military, backed by heavy artillery and warplanes, is advancing inside the city of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan, the officials said on Thursday. The city fell into al-Qaeda's hands during last year's popular uprising against the now ousted leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Zinjibar's capture would deal a heavy blow to al-Qaeda as it would leave the terror group's fighters scattered in smaller towns and mountain areas of the south.

The push in Zinjibar is part of Yemen's offensive along several fronts to uproot al-Qaeda from its southern strongholds at a time when the US has thrown its support behind the new Yemeni president and Saleh's successor, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Hadi has vowed to combat al-Qaeda by restructuring the military and replacing Saleh's loyalists in key posts, though there are concerns that Saleh, who stepped down in February, is still obstructing reforms and trying to retain influence through his cronies.

The latest offensive began on Tuesday, with the military trying to clear the way for an assault by ground troops on towns where al-Qaeda fighters are either operating or in control.

Yemen's army is receiving direct help from US troops, who are operating from a desert air base near the main battle zones to help coordinate assaults and airstrikes, according to Yemeni officials.

The officials said it was the most direct American involvement yet in the country's expanding campaign against al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen, which has been blamed for directing a string of unsuccessful bomb plots on US soil from its hideouts in the impoverished country at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed an executive order allowing the Treasury Department to freeze the US-based assets of individuals who the White House says "threaten the peace, security and stability" of Yemen. The order was meant as a deterrent against future action and does not immediately levy any penalties against specific people or organisations.

On Thursday, Yemeni officials said the military intelligence in Zinjibar was poor and that army commanders were unsure whether most of the al-Qaeda fighters there have been killed, simply fled the battle or retreated for tactical reasons and were preparing a counteroffensive.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube