The Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense, stated that in the January 29 attack by its military on Al-Qaeda members in Yemen, 'it is likely' that a number of women and also civilian children were killed. The 'Central Command' - overseeing U.S. military operations in West Asia and North Africa - issued a statement saying that a committee has been formed to investigate the recent attack and has 'unfortunately' raised the possibility that a number of civilian women and possibly children are among the casualties. The 'Central Command' did not provide an exact number of potential civilian casualties. Previously, a local official in the central province of 'Bayda' had stated that '16 civilians' lost their lives in this attack. The operation took place in an area of this province. It has been reported that at least three leaders and several other members of Al-Qaeda were killed in this raid. The January 29 attack also attracted media attention for other reasons. During this raid, William Owen, a U.S. Army commando, lost his life, and three other U.S. soldiers were injured. This was the first military operation of this kind since Donald Trump took office. The Central Command stated that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the group targeted in the recent operation, has 'a terrible history of hiding its operational forces among women and children and placing these civilians in its terrorist camps.' According to this U.S. military command, such practices can make 'cases like this [recent operation] specifically catastrophic.' The United States considers Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to be the most dangerous active branch of Al-Qaeda. The U.S. has been conducting military operations and drone strikes against members of this group in Yemen for years.
U.S. Defense Department Says Civilians 'Probably' Killed in Recent Yemen Attack
The U.S. Defense Department acknowledged the possibility of civilian casualties, including women and children, in a recent military operation against Al-Qaeda in Yemen. This attack, which resulted in the death of a U.S. commando, marks the first military action under President Trump. The incident raises concerns about the risks of civilian harm in U.S. operations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. military conducted an operation in Yemen targeting Al-Qaeda members, which likely resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children. The operation also led to the death of a U.S. commando and injuries to three others.
- The operation took place on January 29.
- It was the first military operation under President Trump.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. has been conducting military operations against Al-Qaeda in Yemen for years, often facing criticism for civilian casualties. AQAP is known for its tactics of embedding among civilian populations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%