![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Yemeni_Civil_War.svg/640px-Yemeni_Civil_War.svg.png&w=640&q=50)
Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen
Ongoing conflict / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen is an ongoing armed conflict between the Yemeni government, the United States and their allies, and al-Qaeda-affiliated cells in Yemen. It is a part of the Global War on Terror.
Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen | ||||||||
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Part of the War on terror and the Yemeni Civil War | ||||||||
![]() Political and military control in Yemen in February 2024 Local, non-aligned forces
(For a map of the military situation in Yemen and border areas in Saudi Arabia, see the detailed map here.) | ||||||||
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Belligerents | ||||||||
Supported by:
Alleged Support: |
Supported by:
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Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
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![]() (2012–present) ![]() (1998–2012) ![]() (2021–present) ![]() (2017–21) ![]() (2009–17) ![]() (2001–09) ![]() (1998–2001) ![]() (2021–present) ![]() (1998–2001) ![]() (2001–2006) ![]() (2006–2011) ![]() (2011–2013) ![]() (2013–2015) ![]() (2015–2017) ![]() (2017–2019) ![]() (2019–2020) |
![]() (2023–present) ![]() (2022–23) ![]() (2022) ![]() (2019–22) ![]() (2014–19) ![]() (2017–19) ![]() (2014–17) | ||||||
Strength | ||||||||
![]() Al-Shabaab: 500[28] |
![]() Advisors & Special Forces: ![]() |
![]() 250–500 (2018)[21] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | ||||||||
at least 25 (2010) at least 279 (2011) at least 48 killed (January–March 2012) at least 318 killed (since April 2012 and 2nd Battle of Lawdar)[32] 429 killed (since May 2012)[33] Total killed: 1,099+ |
17 sailors killed, 39 injured during USS Cole bombing | unknown | ||||||
39 civilians killed (2010) 85 civilians killed (2011) |
Government crackdown against al-Qaeda cells began in 2001, escalating steadily until 14 January 2010, when Yemen declared open war on al-Qaeda.[35][36] In addition to battling al-Qaeda across several provinces, Yemen was forced to contend with a Shia insurgency in the north and militant separatists in the south. Fighting with al-Qaeda escalated further during the course of the 2011 Yemeni revolution, with Jihadists seizing most of the Abyan Governorate and declaring it an Emirate. A second wave of violence began in early 2012, with militants claiming territory across the southwest amid heavy combat with government forces.
On 16 September 2014, a full-scale civil war erupted after Houthi fighters stormed Sana'a and ousted interim President Hadi, fracturing the Yemeni government between the UN recognized government of President Hadi and the Houthis' newly formed Supreme Political Council. The full-scale civil war led to a rise of Islamist Groups (Al-Qaeda, ISIS), insurgencies (Houthis), and call for separation of South Yemen.