Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) issued a statement claiming responsibility of an attack against Shabwa EliteForces in Al Sayed district. AQAP has maintained a strong presence in area following the current disarray in Yemeni.
However, hundreds of Yemeni troops backed by UAE military, fighter jets, and adviser have launched a major offensive attack against the in the southern province of Shabwa. The primary aim of the incursion into scattered regions in Al Sayed district is to expel AQAP militants who have long used the areas to hide, and stage attacks against government targets.
The operation is particularly targeting the area seeing as intelligence indicate that AQAP militants are said to be storing their arsenal of heavy weapons they looted from the army in 2015 in Al Sayed’s mountains. The offensive will be very paramount in expelling the AQAP militants from Yemeni.