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Leading al-Qaeda figures killed during Yemeni air strike
![[MOHAMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images] Yemeni soldiers at a checkpoint in Sanaa.](/cocoon/meii/images/2010/03/16/100316-feature-1-photoAP.jpg) [MOHAMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images] Yemeni soldiers at a checkpoint in Sanaa. |
A Sunday raid on an al-Qaeda hideout in the Abyan province resulted in the killing of three wanted terrorist leaders, security officials told Al-Shorfa Tuesday (March 16th).
The three leaders are the leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Abyan province, Jamil Nasser Abdullah al-Ambari, Saudi national Samir al-Sanaani, and Ahmed Amzarba.
"The three are some of the most dangerous terrorists and are wanted al-Qaeda leaders. Their identity was confirmed after examining their bodies," Abdel Razak Mrouni, the head of security in the Abyan province said.
Surveillance and tracking of al-Qaeda culminated in an airstrike at 10 p.m. on Sunday, targeting a number of terrorists in the Jiza Ahl Qanan region in the district of Moudia, Abyan Province, deputy Interior Minister Fadl al-Qousi told Al-Shorfa.
Al-Qousi said the individuals were plotting to carry out terrorist attacks against critical installations.
Al-Qousi said that "the security forces will heighten their surveillance, and they will tighten security measures around critical installations in order to counter any possible reaction by the terrorist organisation". He stressed that "the security forces are determined to continue their operations and pursue the terrorists and outlaws, and they will not allow anyone to tamper with the security and stability of the country."
The security chief of Moudia, Col. Abdullah Al-Salehi, told Al-Shorfa in a telephone interview that al-Ambari and Amzarba had previously carried out terrorist activities including damaging cars and firing at security forces, leading to the death of a soldier three months ago.
Al-Salehi said that the first air strike "was precise and did not cause death or injury among civilians", explaining that the region targeted by the Air Force is not populous. It is located in the suburbs of the centre of the district of Moudia, more than three kilometres away from inhabited areas.
Al-Salehi said that security forces surrounded the location between the area of the bridge of Moudia and the mountain of Umm Zarw. He pointed that the airstrike was precise and intensive, based on information that members of al-Qaeda were meeting at that location preparing to launch terrorist attacks.
He added that the Air Force carried out another precise airstrike against an al-Qaeda training camp Monday morning, targeting an al-Qaeda training camp in the Lodar region. Al-Salehi stressed that "the war against terror will continue until the phenomenon is eradicated, which targets the security and stability of the country, and smears the image of the Islamic religion."
Yemen has tightened security measures around oil and gas installations, foreign embassies and critical facilities. The government declared an open war against al-Qaeda after the failed attempt to blow up a US-bound airplane on Christmas Day. The regional arm of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the failed attack. A series of pre-emptive strikes have paralyzed the organization completely.
However, one of these strikes led to dozens of civilian casualties, prompting the Yemeni parliament to open an investigation with the ministers overseeing these strikes in order to ensure that they are not carried out in populated areas.
Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence and Security, announced in early March in parliament that the government had offered an apology for the mistake that occurred, and it would provide compensation for civilians who were affected.
Reader Comments
Arab and Muslim countries have suffered a lot, particularly because of the presence of Al-Qaeda members and leaders on their territories. They were behind many bombings and assassinations which led to the killing of many innocent people. Thus, Arab and Islamic countries had to face the Al-Qaeda terrorists. This confrontation resulted in the killing of many leaders in the ranks of this terrorist organization and the arrest of many of its elements that work with it in secret or in public. After the arrest of Al-Qaeda members and the assassination of its leaders, the organization was greatly affected and it surrendered in most of these countries. It has become known that it has no place in the Arab countries, because neither the governments nor Arab Muslim people want it to exist.
I think that terrorism will not find any foothold in Yemen, because the Yemeni people are too aware to be deceived by the tricks of these criminals. Thus, Yemen will be the cemetery of terrorism, thanks to the efforts of the Yemeni government in the fight against terrorism, and as a result of the unity and solidarity of the Yemeni people and their rallying around their government in order to eradicate these terrorists.
I think that the Yemeni forces have excelled at tracking down terrorism and Al-Qaeda in Yemen, while it had started to establish its base in southern Yemen. However, the Security Forces conducted a strike that was so swift and strong that it flattened the organization and eradicated many of its elements. Unlike many other countries, the Yemeni Security Forces didn’t give the opportunity to Al-Qaeda to settle there and then fight them. They decided to eradicate this organization as soon as they felt that Al-Qaeda had gained supporters in Yemen. Terrorists also tried to sow dissension in Yemen through their cooperation with the Houthis living in the South of Yemen, who oppose the regime in Yemen. Thus, terrorists tried to confuse the international community and send them a misleading message that Yemen and its forces target and kill the opposition. However, it was a failed attempt. At the same time, the Yemeni Security Forces were determined to achieve their goal, which is the eradication of terrorists. The Yemeni Security Forces still track down terrorists throughout the country to keep Yemen safe and free of terrorism.
Islam is a religion of love and cooperation. Of course, what would you expect a retarded and tough-minded takfiri person who kills others and spreads destruction to raise, other than a racist way of thinking, filled with blood, death and destruction? Terrorism is an important issue and the media has to spread awareness on this issue, and be aware of the punishment for such actions and how they are condemned by our religion.
What Al Qaeda? All the elements of Al Qaeda are members of the national security forces, and the victims are all civilians. These are mere lies and deception! The so-called preemptive strikes aim to intimidate the southerners and activists of the Southern Movement. With regard to Al Qaeda, it's only a camouflage by the Yemeni government to justify attacks against the southerners in general and the activists of the Southern Movement in particular.
What they are doing in Iraq is unfair.
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