US declassifies attacks in Yemen, Somalia

By ROBERT BURNS

June 16, 2012 AP

WASHINGTON -- The White House is partially lifting the lid of secrecy on its counterterrorism campaign against al-Qaida in Yemen and Somalia by formally acknowledging for the first time that it is conducting lethal attacks in those countries.

The White House's semiannual report to Congress on the state of U.S. combat operations abroad, delivered Friday, mentions what has been widely reported for years but never formally acknowledged by the administration: The U.S. military has been taking "direct action" against members of al-Qaida and affiliates in Yemen and Somalia.

The report does not elaborate, but "direct action" is a military term of art that refers to a range of lethal attacks, which in the case of Yemen and Somalia include attacks by armed drones. The report does not mention drones, which are remote-controlled, pilotless aircraft equipped with surveillance cameras and sometimes armed with missiles.

The report applies only to U.S. military operations, including those by special operations forces - not those conducted by the CIA.

"In all cases we are focused on those al-Qaida members and affiliates who pose a direct threat to the United States and to our national interests," Pentagon press secretary George Little said after the report's release. "This report contains information about these operations owing to their growing significance in our overall counterterrorism effort."

The report does not provide details of any military operations in either Yemen or Somalia. It merely acknowledges they have happened. Killings of terror suspects overseas are acknowledged by the administration, but it does not mention the involvement of drones. The CIA and military have separate drone fleets.

The decision by President Barack Obama to declassify the existence of the counterterror actions in those two countries amounts an incremental move toward greater openness about the use of U.S. force overseas. It does not reflect any change in the intensity or basic character of the U.S. campaign to defeat al-Qaida.

A previous step in the direction of greater official transparency came in April when the White House's counterterrorism chief, John Brennan, made the first formal confirmation that the U.S. uses armed drones against terrorists. But he did not mention their use in specific countries.

The new information in Friday's report comes amid outcries from some in Congress about leaks to the news media about details of classified activities such as the existence of a White House "kill list" of targeted al-Qaida militants. The accusation, mostly by Republicans, is that the White House has orchestrated the leaks to improve Obama's re-election chances, an allegation the president has rejected as "offensive" and "wrong."

Three administration officials who briefed The Associated Press on the decision to declassify the existence of the military's counterterrorism campaigns in Yemen and Somalia said Obama determined that the time was ripe, in part because the U.S. has built closer relations with the Yemeni government and with governments interested in eliminating extremist elements in Somalia. Somalia has not had a fully functioning government since 1991.

The officials said the declassification of further details in future reports to Congress would remain under White House review.

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the White House is required to report to Congress every six months on U.S. combat operations abroad. Friday's report includes a secret attachment with classified details, which was not released publicly.

The last report, on Dec. 15, 2011, made no mention of Yemen or Somalia. Instead it said that in relation to efforts against al-Qaida, the U.S. was working with partners "with a particular focus on countries within the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility," which is a broad swath of territory that includes the entire Middle East and Central Asia.

Friday's report was more explicit. It said that in Somalia the U.S. military has worked to counter the terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida and al-Qaida-associated elements of a militant group called al-Shabaab.

"In a limited number of cases, the U.S. military has taken direct action in Somalia against members of al-Qaida, including those who are also members of al-Shabaab, who are engaged in efforts to carry out terrorist attacks against the United States and our interests," it said.

It said the U.S. military also has been working closely with the Yemeni government to "operationally dismantle and ultimately eliminate" the terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP.

It called AQAP "the most active and dangerous affiliate of al-Qaida today."

"Our joint efforts have resulted in direct action against a limited number of AQAP operatives and senior leaders in that country who posed a terrorist threat to the United States and our interests," the report said.

Yemeni Military Success Against Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula

Press Statement

Victoria Nuland

Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 16, 2012

The United States commends the success of the Yemeni government, military, and people in re-taking important areas of southern Yemen, including the cities of Ja’ar and Zinjibar, from al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). After sustained Yemeni operations, AQAP no longer controls those cities. These achievements come just weeks after the violent extremists were similarly pushed out of the city of Lawdar. Al-Qa’ida’s presence in Abyan has had a devastating impact on the citizens there and prevented the delivery of critical humanitarian assistance desperately needed by the Yemeni people. We extend our deepest condolences for those who lost their lives and note the courageous efforts of Yemeni citizens who joined with the Yemeni military in the fight against terrorism. Their bravery serves as a reminder that the Yemeni population rejects al-Qa’ida and the violence it promotes.

As Yemeni security services continue to reclaim territory previously held by AQAP, we encourage the prompt restoration of civilian authority, humanitarian relief, and essential public services across Yemen. The United States remains committed to working with Yemen as it addresses the many challenges it faces – in the security realm as well as political, economic, and humanitarian affairs. We will continue to work with President Hadi and the Yemeni people in their efforts to rebuild their nation and ensure long-term stability, safety, and security in Yemen.

21 al Qaeda militants killed in south Yemen

June 16, 2012

21 al Qaeda militants killed in south Yemen Sanaa: Yemeni government troops killed 21 al Qaeda fighters in the latest clashes in the country's south, military officials said on Saturday, while Washington commended Yemen for successfully routing militants from some strategic southern strongholds.

The military officials said 17 militants died in fighting that raged until early morning around Azan town in southern Shabwa province. Six soldiers were wounded in those clashes, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

Four other militants and one soldier died in fighting today in the Hassan valley area in the adjoining Abyan province, the officials also said. The valley is located east of the provincial capital of Zinjibar, which al-Qaida captured last year and held until recently along with several other towns in Abyan.

Al Qaeda's fighters took advantage of a security vacuum last year during a popular uprising that ousted Yemen's longtime leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to seize swaths of territory in the strategic south. That raised fears it could use the area as a foothold to launch more attacks on US targets.

Yemeni Army Advances on Third rebel-held Town

15 Jun 2012

REUTERS

Yemeni soldiers killed 40 Islamist militants and captured one of their outposts in heavy fighting in southern Yemen on Thursday, local Defence Ministry officials said.

The Interior Ministry warned in a statement it had put security forces on alert following warnings al Qaeda-linked militants might try to launch attacks against civilian and government targets following their defeat in southern Yemen, reports Reuters.

The Yemeni army is pushing ahead with a U.S.-backed offensive against the last stronghold held by the al Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) in Abyan province after they were driven out from the cities of Jaar and Zinjibar on Tuesday.

A local Yemeni official said heavy fighting had taken place during the capture of the outpost at Wadi Salam, some 20 kilometres (16 miles) west of Shaqra. An estimated 300 Islamist militants were besieged by the army after the outpost fell.

The report could not be independently verified.

Earlier on Thursday, a local Yemeni official and residents said Islamist militants were seen fleeing from the advancing Yemeni army.

Government troops and allied tribal fighters were a few kilometres from Shaqra after retaking an area held by the insurgents on the outskirts on Wednesday.

Many insurgents fled at dawn and headed towards the town of Azzan after setting fire to two tanks and other military equipment, Shaqra residents said.

The militants were forced out of their strongholds of Zinjibar and Jaar on Tuesday in the army's most significant victory against them in more than a year of turmoil that has taken Yemen to the brink of civil war.

Thousands of soldiers backed by tanks and war planes launched the offensive last month and were joined by local tribesmen opposed to the militants.

The United States has provided training and other support, including drone strikes, concerned its Islamist foes have gained a new foothold in the Middle East.

Their advance has fuelled fears about al Qaeda's presence in a country next to Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, and close to shipping lanes.

In Sanaa, the Yemeni Interior Ministry warned that Islamist militants could resort to attacks following its defeat in southern Yemen and said it was beefing up security in the capital and other cities against such attacks.

"Security forces have warned that al Qaeda, in light of the humiliating defeat, could resort to terrorist operations to take revenge for the great victory achieved by the armed forces in destroying the dens of terror in Jaar and Zinjibar," it said in a statement.

Ansar al-Sharia had earlier said it would seek to spread the war across Yemen after it was forced to abandon the towns, according to the SITE Intelligence Group which monitors militant websites.

President Hadi receives U.S. Congress delegation

June 14, 2012

SANA'A- President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi received U.S. congress delegation led by Todd Platts, a member of the Committee of Oversight and Government Reform and the Chairman of the Subcommittee of Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management, who is visiting Yemen currently to express American's support for the political settlement in the country.

After welcoming the delegation president Hadi expressed his pleasure at this visit, which has a particular importance at the current, difficult, precise circumstances of Yemen history.

He indicated to the natural of the 2011 crisis, saying that crisis it could lead to a civil war due to the sharp difference and division, which included security and military components as well as the all components in the society.

The president reviewed with the American delegation efforts have been made locally, regionally, and internationally in order to avoid conflicts and civil war, stressing that the international community's cooperation has secured Yemen.

During the meeting President Hadi valued the efforts made by American Ambassador to Yemen and ambassadors of the permanent members of the Security Council and the European Union as well as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)'s states, who made exceptional efforts for reaching these results which avert Yemen from dragging into civil war.

The President touched to the challenges Yemen has suffered at the security, political and economic levels, pointing out to the problem of Yemen economic which it was weak and it is aggravated as a result of the 2011 crisis, saying that needs aids for Yemen in order to get the country out of its delicate and sensitive condition.

"The procedures and decisions have been taken, reflected the framework of the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanism backed by the Security Council resolution 2014, stressing that we will continue with strong will in order to carry out all actions towards the hopeful future,'' Hadi added.

President Hadi also touched to what Yemen has suffered from over the past years, such as the internal wars and the social, in addition to al-Qaeda terrorist operations in some provinces in the south particularly in the province of Abyan, which target the security and stability there, praising the success of Yemeni army in forcing al-Qaeda militants to flee the scene of the battles.

For his part, American official highly appreciated the great efforts made by the President Hadi, in such critical stage, stressing that the U.S. would provide all kind of assistance to Yemen.