The U.S. on Thursday engaged in its first military action in Yemen since the raid that killed Navy SEAL Ryan Owens in January, three U.S. defense officials confirmed to Fox News.
(FOX)- The early-morning airstrikes — more than 20 in all — targeted Al Qaeda fighters, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said. The strikes hit three south-central provinces suspected to have terrorist activity: Abyan, Shabwa and Bayda.
At least four Al Qaeda fighters were killed, a Yemeni official told The Associated Press.
The strikes will degrade the AQAP’s ability to coordinate external terror attacks and limit their ability to use territory seized from the legitimate government of Yemen as a safe space for terror plotting.
Targets of the strikes included militants, equipment, infrastructure, heavy weapons systems and fighting positions,” Davis added, saying the U.S. coordinated the military action with Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Chief Petty Officer Ryan Owens was killed as part of the Navy SEAL Team Six operation against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on January 29.