Terrorism in Yemen

In the War on Terrorism in Yemen, the U.S. government describes Yemen as "an important partner in the global war on terrorism." [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35836.htm Background Note: Yemen] "U.S. Department of State", January 2006]

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, President Ali Abdullah Saleh made an effort to eliminate the Islamist militant presence. Yemeni government troops detained many militants who trained at Al Qaeda camps.Fact|date=February 2007

In December 2001, a search by government forces for two Yemeni believed to be senior al Qaeda members hiding near Ma'rib led to a gun battle with tribesmen which ended in the deaths of 32 people, including 18 soldiers. To defuse the situation, ten Ma'rib sheiks were detained as hostages of the state in comfortable rooms in the presidential palace for 35 days, until 43 lesser tribesmen took their place.Fact|date=February 2007

In the first months of 2002 the Bush Administration approved sending about 100 Special Operations Forces to Yemen, a power base for Al Qaeda. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/02/international/middleeast/02MILI.html U.S. Broadens Terror Fight, Readying Troops for Yemen] , "New York Times", March 2, 2002]

In November 2002, 6 Yemeni suspected of being members of al Qaeda were blown up in their car in the province of Marib by a hellfire missile attack from an unmanned CIA RQ-1 Predator aircraft [http://www-tech.mit.edu/V122/N54/long4-54.54w.html] .

In December 2002, Spanish troops boarded and detained a ship, at the request of the United States, that was transporting Scud missiles from North Korea to Yemen. After two days, when the United States determined it had no right under international law to continue to detain the shipment, they let it continue on to Yemen.Fact|date=February 2007

On December 30, 2002, a suspected Islamic fundamentalist killed three U.S. workers and wounded one in a hospital in Jibla, using a semi-automatic rifle. The suspect was arrested and identified as Abid Abdulrazzaq Al-Kamil [http://www.domini.org/openbook/yem20021230.htm] .

Jews in Yemen reportedly fled their homes due to threats from Muslim extremists.

Al Qaeda members sent letters to 45 Jews living in al-Salem, near Sanaa, on 19 January 2007, accusing them of involvement in an "international Zionist conspiracy." The letters said that if the Jews did not abandon their homes in ten days, they would be abducted and murdered and their homes would be looted. The Jewish community sent a complaint to President Abdullah Salah and are temporarily staying in a hotel near Sanaa. The Yemeni government has promised that their homes will be protected and they may return to them. [http://www.jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=6544&ref=daily_briefing Yemeni Jews flee extremist threats] JTA]

References

External links

* [http://news.bostonherald.com/international/middleEast/view.bg?articleid=183945 More than 100 killed in 5 days of clashes between army, Shiite rebels clashes in Yemen]
* [http://www.dispatch.com/national-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/17/20070217-A10-02.html At least 112 drown on voyage to Yemen]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/04/africa/ME-GEN-Yemen-Terrorism-Trial.php 36 Yemenis stand trial on charges of terrorism]