US Yemen raid targeted leader of Al-Qaeda branch in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The US raid in Yemen in January was at eliminating or capturing A-Qaeda head in the AQAP, Qassim Al-Raymi, according to military officials.
On January 29 US Special Forces made Navy SEAL Team 6 and Emirati commandos launched a well-planned raid in Yemen killing killing 14 al-Qaeda militants as well as civilians, including the daughter of previously assassinated al-Qaeda leader Anwar Awlaki.
According to report by NBC broadcaster and referencing US military sources, Al-Raymi is considered the third most dangerous terrorist in the world and a master recruiter.
Preparations for the raid began in the Obama administration. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford reportedly told Trump al-Raymi’s capture would be a game changer.
Military sources referenced by various open sources indicate that the raid was conducted by two dozen SEALs, with as many as 40 other ground and air forces backing them up. A half-dozen Yemeni soldiers and a dozen Emirati commandos also were involved.
US intelligence reports indicate that Al-Raymi survived the raid by a whisker after alert by a barking dog.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer called the raid “successful … by all standards.” The Pentagon said U.S. forces captured “materials and information that is yielding valuable intelligence.”
