US special operation in Yemen kills 8 Qaida "militants", 12 civilians: sources

United States Special Forces launched a pre-dawn security raid on Sunday in central Yemen, killing more than 12 civilians and eight al-Qaida militants, including senior commanders, military sources told Xinhua.


The surprise operation took place in the rural district of Yakla in al-Bayda province, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

A senior al-Qaida leader, Abdul-Raoof Dhahab, his two brothers, and five other terrorists were killed in the operation, which was carried out in cooperation with local authorities, said the sources who are based in the province.

Another medical source, who also demanded anonymity, told Xinhua by phone that 12 civilians, including four women and three children, were also killed in the operation.

Residents near the scene told Xinhua that "four military planes participated in the operation and kept hovering over the village for hours."

A source at Yemen's intelligence agency confirmed to Xinhua that helicopter-borne commandos raided houses held by al-Qaida leaders and that a firefight broke out and continued for several minutes in the area.

Some American soldiers were injured in the raid on the ground, the intelligence source said.
  [Xinhua/China]
29/1/17
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