Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Yemen and the United States have launched intense air
strikes on Al Qaida.

Officials said up to 55 Al Qaida fighters were killed in U.S. and Yemeni
air strikes on insurgency camps in the Arab state.

The officials said several Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula camps, which contained members from several Arab and Muslim countries, were targeted by such aircraft as MiG-29 fighter-jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

“There was certain intelligence information that terrorist elements were training in those camps and planning to target vital civilian and military facilities,” an official said.

The counter-insurgency offensive, which focused on UAVs, began on April 20 in the provinces of Abyan and Shabwa. The Yemeni Supreme Security Committee said the camps contained the “leading and dangerous elements of Al Qaida.”

On April 19, a U.S. air strike coordinated with Yemen killed 10 AQAP fighters in the Bayda province. Officials said the fighters were on a truck headed for an assault on military bases in Bayda city.

“They were in a pickup truck that was suddenly driving near the targeted vehicle,” the official said.

Officials said AQAP was plotting major attacks, including against the
United States. They cited the prospect of bombing Western embassies in
Sanaa.

“We will continue to raise the banner of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula
and our war against the crusaders will continue everywhere in the world,”
AQAP commander Nasser Al Wuhayshi said.

The Yemeni Interior Ministry said 55 Al Qaida fighters were killed on
April 20 alone. The ministry said three of the casualties — Mohammed Salem
Al Musheeba, Fawaz Al Mahraq and Salah Al Mahraq — were identified as
senior commanders.

“They targeted dangerous leading elements of Al Qaida,” Yemeni President
Abbed Rabbo Mansour Hadi said. “The UAV strikes have greatly helped in
limiting Al Qaida activities, despite some mistakes which we are sorry
about.”

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