Fall of Zinjibar and Jaar

Fall of Zinjibar and Jaʽār
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
Date2–3 December 2015 (1 day)
Location
Zinjibar and Jaʿār, Abyan Governorate, Yemen
Result

AQAP victory

  • Al-Qaeda declares the "Emirate of Jaʽār" and the "Emirate of Zinjibar"
Belligerents
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Yemen Popular Committees and Popular resistance

Southern Movement
Commanders and leaders
Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari  †[1]

Yemen Ali al-Sayed  †

Yemen Al-Khader Haidan[2]
Abdullatif Al-Sayed
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
5+ killed 22+ killed

In early December 2015, two Yemeni towns, Zinjibar (the provincial capital of Abyan Governorate) and Jaʽār (a town a few km inland to the north), were captured by the jihadist group Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). This was the second capture and occupation of Zinjibar during unrest in Yemen. The town was earlier taken by AQAP's in May 2011 and held until the summer of 2012.[3]

Zinjibar is close to the port of Aden, and the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb,[4] and between Aden and (what was) the AQAP's stronghold of Mukalla.[5] The al Qaeda takeover of two towns has been seem by some as a demonstration of its interest in seizing territory and not just "conducting spectacular attacks against Western targets".[3]

Zinjibar was retaken by pro-government forces on 14 August 2016.[6]

  1. ^ THOMAS JOSCELYN & BILL ROGGIO (4 February 2016). "Senior AQAP commander reportedly killed in US drone strike in Yemen". FDD's long war journal. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  2. ^ Mohammed Mukhashaf (2 December 2015). "Al Qaeda militants take over two south Yemen towns, residents say". Reuters. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference longwar-2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Yemeni army attacks fighters around Zinjibar". AlJazeera. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference middleeasteye.net was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference stratfor-14-8-16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).