U.S. continue to carry out airstrikes targeting Al-Qaeda terrorist network in Yemen though it has decreased significantly as compared to 2017.
According to spokesman for US Forces Central Command (CENTCOM), the terror group remains a significant threat.
The spokesman made the statement while announcing two undisclosed US airstrikes which took place in September 2018.
His statement confirmed that US had conducted two strikes against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in September but did not conduct any airstrikes against AQAP in Yemen in October.
The number of strikes targeting AQAP has decreased significantly over the past year. The US has conducted 36 strikes in Yemen in 2018, all but one of which targeted the al Qaeda affiliate in the country. This is roughly a quarter of last year’s record high of 131 strikes.
Despite a decline in counterterrorism air strikes against AQAP, the militant group continue to pose a significant threat, CENTCOM spokesperson, Lt. Col. Earl Brown said and called on other regional military partners to join US efforts in disrupting and destroying AQAP.
AQAP has remained a viable and lethal branch of al Qaeda’s global network, despite a concerted US air campaign that has killed several top leaders and operatives, and has targeted AQAP’s military capacity.
