Base in Yemen Is Attacked by Militants

[alp227]

Source: AP

Militants linked to Al Qaeda staged a surprise attack on an army base in southern Yemen on Saturday, setting off clashes that left 30 dead before airstrikes forced the militants to retreat, military officials said.

Army officials said the militants attacked the base in the town of Al Milah in Lahj Province. The town is close to Abyan Province, a Qaeda stronghold.

The army fought back, and by the time fighter jets were called in and forced the militants to retreat, 17 soldiers and 13 militants were dead. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media.

Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen has exploited the political and security turmoil related to the country’s yearlong uprising, managing to take control of large areas in the south and staging increasingly bold attacks on the military.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/world/middleeast/militants-linked-to-al-qaeda-attack-army-base-in-yemen.html

[bemildred]

1. I'm sure glad it was not attacked by slackers. nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. When did we put a base in Yemen?

I must have missed that, but I didn't think we had a presence there as well.

[hack89]

3. It was not an American base - it was a Yemeni army base.

we have a base next to Yemen in Djibouti.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Thanks.

I knew something did't sound right.