Yemen troops take control of third city after Al-Qaeda pullout June 15, 2012 - 17:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Yemeni troops took control of the city of Shuqra on Friday, June 15 after Al-Qaeda militants pulled out, the third jihadist bastion in the south to fall in the space of a week, a military official said, according to AFP. "The army has taken control of Shuqra," said a military official, adding that "troops have taken positions in the centre" of the coastal city while militants fled. He said advancing troops killed 27 militants in gun battles overnight, after state media reported at least 48 people, including 40 militants, were killed during the day on Thursday. A local official told AFP Al-Qaeda fighters "pulled out towards Azzan," in Shabwa province, some 110 kilometres (70 miles) to the northeast. The official said militants fled after the army "tightened the noose from three fronts." Shuqra was the last major Al-Qaeda stronghold in Abyan province to fall to government forces, which launched an all-out offensive last month that had already resulted in the recapture of the towns of Jaar and Zinjibar. The militants remain in control of the smaller town of Al-Mahfad. The defence ministry news website 26Sep.net confirmed the recapture of Shuqra, adding that units from several army brigades, as well as the elite Republican Guard and local anti-Qaeda militiamen, took part in the attack. General Mohammed Labuza, deputy chief of staff for armament, said the "terrorists received painful blows," adding that air forces were "dealing with criminal elements on the run." The official Saba news agency said the air force had launched around 100 raids against militants holed up in the city. On Tuesday, the military drove the jihadists out of the provincial capital of Zinjibar and Jaar, with Al-Qaeda gunmen believed to have fled east to Shuqra. Taking advantage of the weakening of central government control by an Arab Spring-inspired uprising last year, the militants had overrun most of Abyan, seizing Zinjibar, Jaar, Shuqra and several villages.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty.Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza.Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations.Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |
