U.S. Special Forces directing Yemen’s offensive against Al Qaida

Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — U.S. military advisers have been directing the war against Al Qaida in Yemen.

specopyemen — The contingent of U.S. special operations forces is expected to grow and is working in concert with the campaign of airstrikes against Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Officials said scores of officers from the U.S. Special Operations Command have been deployed with the Yemeni military to identify, track and strike targets of Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. They said American personnel were helping direct Yemeni infantry missions and air strikes as well as conducting battle damage assessments.

“There is a very close relationship here, but the Yemenis are doing the heavy work,” an official said.

[On May 20, a U.S. military instructor in southern Yemen was shot and seriously injured. Officials said a car with four Americans were ambushed by suspected Al Qaida gunmen in the Red Sea city of Hudaida.]

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Al Qaida in the Arab Peninsula, southern Yemeni city of Jaar, U.S. Special Forces directing Yemen’s offensive against Al Qaida, U.S. Special Operations Command

U.S. Special Forces directing Yemen’s offensive against Al Qaida added by World Tribune on May 27, 2012
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