2012 Abyan offensive

See also: Abyan campaign (March–August 2015)

2012 Abyan offensive
Part of Yemeni Crisis (2011-present)

Map of Yemen showing Abyan Governorate.
Date12 May – 15 June 2012
(1 month and 3 days)
Location
Zinjibar and Jaʿār, Abyan Governorate, Yemen
Result

Decisive Yemeni victory[2]

  • 2012 Sana'a bombing
  • Government forces recapture Zinjibar, Jaar and Shuqrah in mid-June
  • Militants pull back to Azzan in Shabwah Governorate, then abandon it peacefully on 17 June
  • AQAP and its allies return to an insurgency campaign in Abyan and neighboring provinces
Belligerents

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula[1]

Yemen Yemen

Commanders and leaders

Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari
Nasir al-Wuhayshi
Said Ali al-Shihri
Qasim al-Raymi
Ibrahim al-Asiri
Qaed al-Dahab  (WIA)

Sheikh Hatim al Moqbil[3]		 Yemen Abdullatif Al-Sayed
Yemen Gen. Salem Ali Qatan †[4]
Yemen Brig. Gen. Muhammad Nasir Ahmad Ali
Yemen Saleh al-Ahmar
Strength
2,000 fighters (Zinjibar)[5] Thousands of troops, backed by tanks and fighter jets
Local tribal militias[2]
Casualties and losses
429 militants killed[6] 78 soldiers, 26 tribal fighters killed[6]
34 civilians killed[6]


The 2012 Abyan offensive was an offensive by the Yemeni military against Islamist militant forces, possibly including elements of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in the province of Abyan with the purpose of re-capturing the militant-held towns of Zinjibar and Jaʿār.

On 12 May, the military started the offensive in an attempt to recapture all areas of Abyan out of their control. Over a month of fighting, 567 people were reportedly killed, including 429 Islamist fighters, 78 soldiers, 26 tribal fighters and 34 civilians.[6] On 12 June the Yemeni army succeeded in retaking Zinjibar and Jaar, pushing the militants away after heavy clashes in and around both towns. The city of Shuqrah fell on 15 June, and militants retreated towards neighboring Shabwah Governorate.[7]

  1. ^ "Militants linked to al-Qaeda emboldened in Yemen". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Yemeni army claims major advance in campaign against al Qaeda". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Gulf Of Aden Security Review June 8, 2012 | Critical Threats". Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Yemen southern army commander Qatan dies in suicide attack". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  5. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b c d "Yemen army seizes third city after Qaeda pullout". Gulftoday.ae. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Yemeni army drives fighters from Zinjibar". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2014.