A reported U.S. airstrike killed two al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants in al Hamiqan area, near al Bayda city in central Yemen on February 18. The U.S. frequently targets AQAP militants in al Bayda governorate to degrade AQAP’s ability to conduct local and external operations.
AQAP has been attempting to expand its territory in Yemen seeing as the major security operation is against the Houthi Rebels. However, the US-led coalition operational in the country has intensified its airstrikes to ensure that the gains made in liberating the country are permanent and the end product is the stabilization of Yemen.
