Targets In Yemen Hit By American Drones

United States is worried that a regime which is struggling for its own survival will not be able to help them in ant-terror operations. Thus to stop the militants from occupying this power vacumn in the south of Yemen , US government has stepped up its drone attacks in this area.

Reports coming form Yemen indicate that not only drones but fighter jets were used in what looks like a major operation.It is very important for the Americans that these militants are restricted in the south of the country.

Earlier Wednesday, Admiral Michael Mullen, the top US uniformed commander, said the conflict in the Arabian Peninsula country was making the Al-Qaeda terror network more "dangerous."
Al-Qaeda in Yemen "has grown into a very virulent deadly federated point in the Al-Qaeda organisation," the head of the US joint chiefs of staff said in Cairo."It is incredibly dangerous and made more dangerous in the ongoing chaos."

The most recent attack was on Friday when US Air-jets killed alleged Al-Qaeda member Ali Al-Harithi and others while also claiming the lives of four civilians. Although the strike was a US lead attack there had been ongoing clashes on the ground between the state security and Islamists in Zunjubar the capital of Abyan. According to locals the clashes have made regular life impossible in the town and forced many to hide. A few weeks ago a similar US lead attack was launched attempting to kill AQAP leader Anwar Al-Awlaqi who is said to be hiding in Shabwa governorate neighboring Abyan but has failed.

Before this American attacked on the 6th of May with drone aircraft a car carrying a group of suspected militants, including an American citizen, who were believed to have Qaeda ties. The attack was part of a clandestine Pentagon program to hunt members of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the group believed responsible for a number of failed attempts to strike the United States, including the thwarted plot to blow up a trans-Atlantic jet on Dec. 25, 2009, as it was preparing to land in Detroit. Some intelligence sources tell us that these attacks was meant to liquidate Anwar al-Awlaki.

Although Al-Awlaqi is not one of the top Al-Qaeda leader yet he has been made a target due to his success in recruiting English speaking Yemeni nationals for suicide missions and due to his very popular radio and internet broadcasts. Which are even popular in Muslims of Europe as well as the world. It is to be noted that this man is an American citizen yet US government has decided to kill him.

Intelligence sources further say that American troops present in Yemen are commandos from Special Operation Group and they have been given the lead role in these operations. Troops are not only helped by electronic intelligence, they are guided by CIA operatives present in the country. For the past few years even the US navy has attacked targets inside Yemen using cruise missiles or marine jets flying from their aircraft carrier.

On Tuesday the Yemeni defense ministry announced that 30 members of Al-Qaeda have been killed through military raids.Ironically it was the same defense ministry that allowed the Islamists to have a strong foot hold in the area especially when it recalled its men leaving the town security free and vulnerable to armed groups.

Saleh, who has ruled the country for 33 years, has been a key US ally on the "war on terror.". These fresh attacks come after one year. The May 5th strike was the first known attack in the country by the American military for nearly a year. Last May, American missiles mistakenly killed a provincial government leader, and the Pentagon strikes were put on hold.

According to the newspaper, Saleh had authorized American missions in Yemen in 2009, but has said publicly that all military operations were conducted by Yemeni troops.

Yemen Army Infiltrated By Rebel Moles

Military Units loyal to President Saleh may have been infiltrated by rebel spies who give advnce warning about impending Military action and steal any battle plans which loyalist commanders may draw up. This was confirmed by 1st Armored Brigade commander.He claimed that majority of military units are willing to join the rebels for revolution but are afraid to do so.

To prove his point he explained that most units refuse to shell or kill civilians plus they keep in touch with the rebel units passing vital intel to them.

The first armored brigade which defected early during the revolution has come under heavy attack from the army. Maj. Gen. Al-Mosen house and office have been shelled.

Irrespective of the denials from the Government many army men have confirmed that they did attack first armored brigade targets quite a few times.

“The division didn’t respond except by using anti-air. The Air Defense attack started around 6:30 PM to 10 PM then it stopped. The fighting then resumed again for three hours” said Col. Faris.

A weapon storage facility that belongs to the Defense Ministry was destroyed according to the same source. “The regime destroyed the storage facility so that rebel tribesmen or civilians couldn’t raid the facility for weapons and munitions to use against the government,” he added.

One of the senior officer who defected to the rebel camp confirmed that military units have handed over several military installation to rebel soldiers without a fight.“They are currently being armed with RPGs and LAW rocket launchers in Arhab, the interior ministry and some tribes loyal to Saleh in Attain” said Col Faris.

Yemen City Of Taiz Falls To Rebels As President Battles For Life

More than 400 tribal gunmen have taken over Yemen's most populated city of Taiz, eyewitnesses there say.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh suffered burns on 40% of his body and a collapsed lung, U.S. government officials briefed on the matter said, as the fate of the embattled leader -- and whether he will return to the conflict in Yemen -- remains uncertain.

Saleh was injured Friday from an attack at his presidential compound and is seeking treatment in Saudi Arabia. An Arab diplomatic source with knowledge of Saleh's condition says one shrapnel wound is 7 centimeters (2.75 inches) deep.

Fighting between government and tribal forces has raged for weeks in Yemen, where thousands of anti-government protesters have been pressuring Saleh to give up power since January.

The fiercest clashes since anti-government protests started in the southern city of Taiz continued early Tuesday, with battles between anti-regime gunmen and government security forces, witnesses said.

One of the U.S. government officials said Monday he can't imagine the Saudis letting him go back. He said it is critical that the Saudis press Saleh to accept a Gulf Cooperation Council deal offering him immunity in exchange for stepping down.

However, Saudi state-run Ekhbariya television reported Monday that Saleh had undergone two operations in Saudi Arabia and would return to Yemen after he recovers.

Christopher Boucek, a Middle East expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said he doubts Saleh will go back.

"The regime still maintains that he will return, and they say he's going to return within days, if not weeks," Boucek said. "But there's really no option I see for how he can go back and still be president."

One Week Ceasefire In Yemen On Saudi Kings Initiative

After the deadly attack on the President of Yemen the Saudi King Abdullah intervened and brokered a one week ceasefire between the warring rebels led by Sheikh Al-Amar and Salehs military faction. The situation had really taken a turn for the worse when Saleh with his top brass was injured.

Before that the military had attacked the strong hold of Sheikh Al-Amar and was in the process of flattening the houses of all those who were supporting him. Use of artillery was quite frequent.

It has been reported that some injured Yemeni officials have been flown to Saudi Arabia for treatment but the situation with injured President Ali Abdullah Saleh still remains a mystery as he is yet to make a public appearance.

Rocket Hits Yemen president, Civil War Intensifies

President Ali Abdullah Saleh's palace was attacked by rebels. It is reported that he has been wounded. This is a serious threat to any shred of stability that was left in Yemen. It clearly indicates that the civil war has spun out of control and the Government know longer has control.
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Agencies report that it was one of the most daring attack on the head of the state, even though his injuries are not serious yet , seven guards have been killed and all his top brass including the Prime Minister were also wounded.

Though the Yemeni information ministry said that Saleh has been slightly wounded yet he did not appear any where after the attack. Most leaders after a failed assassination attempt appear on national TV to assuage any kind of fear or rumors of death. This did not happen in the case of the President.

An opposition news bulletin initially reported that the Yemeni leader had been killed, but the rumour was quickly scotched by Mr Saleh's aides.

Speaking after the attack, Mr Saleh blamed an "outlaw gang" of his tribal foes – the powerful Hashid tribe led by Sadeq al-Ahmar, who has been battling Saleh loyalists in Sanaa."I salute our armed forces and the security forces for standing up firmly to confront this challenge by an outlaw gang that has nothing to do with the so-called youth revolution," he said.But the critical aspect was it was only his voice and no footage was shown.

The rebel tribesman and the military are fighting pitched battles in around the capital city for the past one week after the protest and international pressure failed to oust the current Yemeni President.So it is to be expected that the Yemeni forces will intensify their raids on the rebels irrespective of what the US or any other country wants. USA is worried about the Al-Qaeda wing that is active in Yemen and Saleh had cleverly convinced the US that he is the only person to fight that menace and his fall meant an Al-Qaeda take-over.(quite similar to what happened in Pakistan, I don't think USA understand the old trick)

After the protest failed the tribesmen led by al-Ahmar under the flag of their tribal group called Hashid have been fighting the security forces which is dominated by Saleh and his clan.This is the classic case of a powerful faction dissatisfied and rising up in revolt. Sheikh al-Amar and his family has been angry at Saleh promoting only his clansmen and keeping them out of power, therefore they were waiting for an opportunity to strike. And fate provided that opportunity, when after the Tunisia revolt people in Yemen revolted too. Cleverly these tribesmen kept themselves out of the revolt initially expecting the US and western power to force Saleh's ouster. After which  they could easily capture power but when this did not happen and Saleh moved his troops first against the protesters then against the Sheikh himself, the tribesmen joined the fight in full force.

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