Battle of Mukalla (2016)

Second Battle of Al Mukalla
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) and
the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Date24–25 April 2016 (1 day)
Location
Mukalla, Hadramaut, Yemen
Result Emirati victory
Belligerents
AQAP

 United Arab Emirates
* Hadrami Elite Forces
Supported by:

Yemen Hadi-led government
 Saudi Arabia
Commanders and leaders
Qasim al-Raymi
Khalid Batarfi
Mamoun Abdulhamid Hatem †
Sa’ad bin ‘Atef al Awlaki[1]
Mohammed Saleh al-Orabi[2]		 Yemen Faraj Salmin Al-Bahsani (then-commander of the Second Military Region)[3]
United Arab Emirates Musallam Al Rashidi (Commander of UAE Force in Hadhramout)[4]
Saudi Arabia Auni Al Qurni (Deputy commander of KSA Special Forces in Yemen)[4]
Units involved
AQAP fighters

 Republic of Yemen Armed Forces

Strength
1,000+ fighters[5] 2,000 soldiers[6]
Casualties and losses
800 killed
30 wounded (by airstrikes)
100–800 killed (ground offensive, Saudi coalition claims)[7][8]
8–250 captured
10 killed (AQAP claims during ground offensive)[9]
Total losses:
137–1,171		 45 killed
60 wounded[10][11]
Total losses:
87
2 Saudi citizens executed by AQAP
4 civilians killed by drone strike
8 civilians killed by air strike (AQAP claim)
Total:
14 civilians killed

The Second Battle of Mukalla refers to an armed conflict between al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Saudi-led Coalition. The aim of the coalition offensive was to disable the newly resurgent al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen by recapturing its capital, Mukalla. The battle led to a coalition victory, in which the coalition forces gained control of Mukalla and the surrounding coastal areas.[12][13]

  1. ^ Roggio, Bill (31 March 2016). "US strike on camp targeted local AQAP fighters, not external network, commander claims". FDD's Long War Journal.
  2. ^ "Yemeni forces 'captured 250 Qaeda' after city retaken". Al Arabiya. 13 May 2016.
  3. ^ Saeed Al Batati, Correspondent. "Governor of Hadramout arrives in liberated Al Mukalla". GulfNews. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b "Mukalla's liberation sends a warning to supporters of terrorism, says UAE commander". The National. 29 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Al Qaeda emerges stronger and richer from Yemen war". Al Arabiya English. April 8, 2016.
  6. ^ "Yemeni forces seize main oil terminal from al Qaeda". Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Arab coalition kills 800 Qaeda fighters - Yemen government forces make gains - Kuwait Times". Kuwait Times. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Arab coalition enters AQAP stronghold in port city of Mukalla, Yemen". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Yemen govt forces seize Qaeda-held military camp". Al Arabiya. 30 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Yemen: 27 soldiers killed, 60 wounded in Mukalla offensive against Al-Qaeda militants". The Indian Express. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  11. ^ "27 Yemeni troops killed in Mukalla offensive". Al Arabiya English. April 27, 2016.
  12. ^ Agence France-Presse (25 April 2016). "Saudi coalition claims it killed 800 al-Qaeda fighters in Yemen". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mukalla recaptured was invoked but never defined (see the help page).