London – Suspected leader at al-Qaeda in Yemen Qasim Khalil was killed by a US drone airstrike in Abyan governorate, a security source reported to AFP. Washington also revealed the death of 4-12 civilians in an airstrike against the group last January.
Khalil’s death comes four days after the death of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Yasir al-Silmi within a series of airstrikes by Washington against the group last week – up to 45 raids were conducted targeting Abyan, al Bayda and Shabwah.
Unofficial figures revealed the increase of US airstrikes victims in Yemen since Thursday March 2 until March 9 to 24.
US Army General Joseph Votel stated that investigations of the army on airstrikes in January against Qaeda showed that the death toll ranged from four to twelve.
Votel added, during a US Senate session, that the decision was taken based on information but victims were down. He, also, accepted to put himself in charge of any faults that occurred during the operation.
Some criticized the advantage of the airstrike, in the end of January, against Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula given that US President Donald Trump approved it and it led to death of US navy soldier William Owens.
Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities. Launched in London in 1978, Asharq Al-Awsat has established itself as the decisive publication on pan-Arab and international affairs, offering its readers in-depth analysis and exclusive editorials, as well as the most comprehensive coverage of the entire Arab world.
Follow Me:
