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Senior AQAP commanders killed in Abyan and Shabwa airstrikes

Abu Ayoub Al-Lahji (media)

Last updated on: 13-02-2025 at 8 PM Aden Time

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Shabwa (South24)

Two prominent commanders of the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) were killed in a suspected US drone strike in Abyan and Shabwa Governorate, South Yemen, on Wednesday (January 12), a well-informed source told 'South24 Center'. 


The source said the AQAP commander, identified as Abu Ayoub Al-Lahji, was killed in an airstrike that targeted the extremist organization's hideout in Abyan Governorate. The source added that an unknown number of AQAP members were killed and wounded in the airstrike.




The source indicated that an Al-Qaeda leader, likely of Saudi nationality, was killed in another simultaneous airstrike in the Lower Markha district of Shabwa governorate.


AQAP has not yet announced any details about yesterday's strikes.


On January 6, AQAP’s legislative and military official Abu Yousef Al-Muhammadi was killed in a motorcycle bomb explosion in Marib Governorate, according to Yemeni expert on AQAP affairs Mohammed bin Faisal.




The AQAP officially announced Al-Muhammadi’s death in a statement three days later, on January 9. However, it did not mention that Abu Asim Al-Sanaani, who according to Mohammed bin-Faisal was a field commander in AQAP, was also killed in the same attack.


Mohammed bin-Faisal mentioned in posts on X that Al-Sanaani had a disagreement with the Al-Qaeda leadership. This suggests that he was most likely killed by the extremist organization during the attack.


The drone strike on AQAP coincides with airstrikes by security forces that killed 30 ISIS members in the Somali region of Puntland.


South24 Center

South24 Center



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