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Yemeni soldiers killed in apparent al-Qaida revenge attack Yemeni soldiers killed in apparent al-Qaida revenge attack
(about 4 hours later)
Fourteen soldiers have been executed by al-Qaida militants in Yemen in an apparent revenge attack following a recent army crackdown in the east of the volatile state. Fourteen soldiers have been executed by al-Qaida militants in Yemen in an apparent revenge attack after a recent army crackdown in the east of the volatile country.
The soldiers, who were travelling home to Sana'a on a public bus, were ordered off and taken to a market in Seiyoun on Friday. Their bullet-riddled bodies were found on a road near the city about three hours later.The soldiers, who were travelling home to Sana'a on a public bus, were ordered off and taken to a market in Seiyoun on Friday. Their bullet-riddled bodies were found on a road near the city about three hours later.
Ansar al-Sharia, the local al-Qaida offshoot, said that its militants had killed the soldiers for taking part in military operations against the group. Ansar al-Sharia, the local al-Qaida offshoot, said its militants had killed the soldiers for taking part in military operations against the group.
The Yemeni army has recently sent extra troops to the Wadi Hadramout region in north-eastern Yemen in a bid to stop Ansar al-Sharia declaring an Islamic emirate in Seiyoun. The Yemeni army has recently sent extra troops to the Wadi Hadramout region in north-eastern Yemen in an attempt to stop Ansar al-Sharia declaring an Islamic emirate in Seiyoun.
One government official said that the killings appeared to be an act of revenge. One government official said the killings appeared to be an act of revenge.
The stability of Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab World, is of mounting concern for the international community. Meanwhile, a drone strike on Saturday killed three suspected al-Qaida militants in Yemen's central province of Marib, a government security official said.
The US regards al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula as one of the most active wings of the militant network founded by Osama bin Laden. Washington has stepped up its support for the Yemeni government and military, with drone strikes at the centre of its strategy. The strike hit a house in the Obeida Valley, where the group is well represented. Two women were also injured.
The 2011 uprising that forced President Ali Abdullah Saleh from office resulted in a power vacuum that al-Qaida is seeking exploit by creating strongholds in the south and east of Yemen. The stability of Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, is of mounting concern for the international community.
The Yemeni army has launched numerous campaigns against militants in towns and cities in south and eastern Yemen over the past three years with little success. The US regards al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula as one of the most active wings of the militant network founded by Osama bin Laden. Washington has increased its support for the Yemeni government and military, with drone strikes at the centre of its strategy.
The 2011 uprising that forced President Ali Abdullah Saleh from office resulted in a power vacuum that al-Qaida is seeking exploit by creating strongholds in the south and east. The Yemeni army has launched numerous campaigns against militants in towns and cities in those regions over the past three years with little success.
The militants have mounted an increasing number of opportunistic attacks targeting soldiers, army camps and government facilities.The militants have mounted an increasing number of opportunistic attacks targeting soldiers, army camps and government facilities.
However, the killing of the soldiers follows recent gains by the army against the militants in the volatile Wadi Hadramout area. At least 25 suspected militants have been killed in the region in the past week, including seven who died on Thursday when they tried to attack an army facility. However, the killing of the soldiers on Friday follows recent gains made by the army in the volatile Wadi Hadramout area. At least 25 suspected militants have been killed in the region in the past week, including seven who died on Thursday when they tried to attack an army facility.
Nine suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in Hadramout on Wednesday when they tried to ambush troops heading to eastern Yemen. Nine suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in Hadramout on Wednesday when they tried to ambush troops heading to east Yemen.