|
Those killed in
the strike by a suspected U.S. drone in al-Mahfad in Abyan
province included a man described by the residents as a
mid-ranking local leader, Ahmed al-Kazimi.
The occupants of the vehicle were suspected members of Ansar
al-Sharia, a part of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),
one of the most active branches of the al Qaeda network.
The United States, which fears turmoil in Yemen will strengthen
AQAP, acknowledges using drones in Yemen but does not comment
publicly on the practice.
The group's new leader Qassim al-Raymi, appointed after his
predecessor was killed in a U.S. drone strike in June, called
for attacks on the United States in a taped speech released on
July 9.
(Reporting by Mohammed Mukhashef and Mohammed Ghobari, Writing
by Raissa Kasolowsky and William Maclean, Editing by Dominic
Evans)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
|
