This would be a huge victory if true. Still waiting on confirmation but Bill Roggio is a super reliable source.
Long War Journal – Bill Roggio
The Yemeni government claimed it killed the military commander in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula during an airstrike in a remote region of the country.
Abu Hurayrah Qasim al Raymi, the military commander of al Qaeda in Yemen, was among six senior members of the terror group thought to have been killed during an airstrike.
The Yemeni government said its air force struck two cars carrying AQasim and senior members of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in the Al Ajasher region, a mountainous region between Saada and Jawf.
The strike targeted Raymi and al Qaeda leader Aidh Jaber al Shabwani, Ammar Obada al Waili, Saleh al Tais, and an Egyptian known as Abu Ayman. Both Shabwani and Ayamn are thought to have been killed; the identity of the others killed in the strike is not known.
Shabwani was the leader of al Qaeda in Marib province. Ayman is said to move back and forth between Yemen and Afghanistan, where he directs suicide attacks against Afghan and Coalition forces.
The deaths of Raymi, Shabwani, and Ayman have not been confirmed by the US. It is not known if the US military actually carried out the attack or merely provided intelligence and military assistance. Intelligence officials contacted by The Long War Journal would not comment on the strike. The subect of US and foreign involvement in Yemen is a sensitive subject. Two days ago, more than 150 Yemeni clerics said that is was the obligation of Yemenis to wage jihadi on foriegn countries if they become involved in internal affairs.
Related posts:
- Great: US Gives 150 Million in Military assistance to Yemen
- Official: Senior Al Qaeda Commander Killed in Pakistan
- Yemen: Top Al Qaeda Operative Captured
- Al Qaeda: Explosives Expert Among 4 Afghanistan Leaders Killed
- US Airstrike in Yemen kills 34 Al Qaeda terrorists
- Al Qaeda rising in Yemen
- Ft. Hood Jihadist’s Spiritual Advisor Killed In Yemeni Raid *Update* Reports now says he survived
- Yemen Muslim Clerics Threaten Jihad if U.S. Sends Troops
- Yemen: Another American Al Qaeda arrested after shooting up hospital
- 25 Taliban killed in Predator Strike
