Yemen: all you want (2011-2015)

[davidbfpo]

Although the title suggests Oman could play a role in getting the coalition and Yemenis to talk, the author comments on whether negoitation is possible, especially as most diplomats and the UN have left the Yemen:http://www.fairobserver.com/region/m...n-yemen-02197/

The author's slim bio:

Fernando Carvajal is a PhD candidate in Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter in the UK. He has over 14 years of experience conducting field work in Yemen and is a specialist in Yemeni politics and tribal relations.

An intriguing Tweet from Adam Baron, which makes one wonder:

Things that make you go hmmm: not a single coalition airstrike has targeted Mukalla since the port city's takeover by AQAP last week

[CrowBat]

One can wonder about 'how comes' (Saudis are not bombing AQAP), no doubt. But, one shouldn't.

That is: one is wondering only if insisting on remaining 'politically correct'.

A local movement with local roots that's directly challenging Sauds, pledging to topple them from the throne - and then one Sauds can declare 'Shi'a', and 'Iran-backed/supported' - is considered a bigger threat for them, than any Wahhabi-related terror organization they're sponsoring since decades. Because Wahhabism is a state religion in Saudi Arabia, Shi'a are considered worse idolators than Hindus. Houthis are 'double damned' by Saudis: they not only dared refusing to convert to Wahhabism but rose a militant anti-Saud movement that then also launched a counter-reform in favour of renewed Zaidi identity.

It was for the same reason that Sauds have declared Moslem Brotherhood for terrorist organization - and with it began working on toppling Morsi in Egypt and weakening the Islah Party in Yemen, although the latter was the most powerful Sunni representative in that country.

That's similar to what they're doing in Syria: the original FSyA was 'inacceptable', because it was a native movement refusing to subject itself to Saud rule. The JAN and the Daesh can be tollerated because of their Wahhabist-like ideology, but - under some US pressure - became 'inacceptable' because they're refusing Saud rule. That's why Sauds created the Islamic Front, which has already subordinated itself to the Saud dynasty...

With other words, the message is: subject yourself to Saud rule, or die.

[CrowBat]

Here a nice illustration of how deftly are Sauds lying about situation in Yemen.

Lacking other source posting these as regularly, I'll use the SUSRIS' coverage of Saudi military briefings on Op Decisive Storm. (Admittedly, I'm finding this particularly 'fitting', then SUSRIS is the 'Saudi-US Relations Information Service'.)

It's when one takes a look at 'briefings' provided by Brig Gen Asiri few days ago (say 2 - 5 April), and compares them with what's going on in Aden, that many things simply 'do not fit'.

Namely, Asiri is babbling about situation that is 'stabile', then about 'small groups of the Houthi militia' and 'anti-legitimacy insurgent army elements' (are they 'insurgents' or 'army? somebody educated at St Cyr should know the difference...), 'carrying out hit and run operations in order to achieve media goals for making confusion'. He's talking about the 'popular committees acting to stop them', about 'quiet situation', 'some elements of the Houthi militias are found in specific areas' etc. Few days ago he even claimed that the Houthis were forced to retreat from the Presidential Palace in Aden. Correspondingly, one cannot but conclude that everything is nice and fine for Hadi-supporters.

Actually, not only that the Presidential Palace is under Houthi control, or that all the air strikes, all the para-drops of arms and ammo for Hadi-supporters, and all the fire-support by Egyptian and Saudi navies have failed to stop the Houthi/Army advance ever deeper into the city (that is: into the Mualla district, which is the port of Aden). After bitter fighting and changing hands several times, even Aden IAP is meanwhile under Houthi/Army control. Reinforced by the loot from the base of the 31st Armoured Brigade, they are advancing into the at-Tawahi District, west of Mualla, since yesterday.

See the map below, and compare it with the one I've posted above.

With other words:
a) remaining Hadi-loyalists in Aden are definitely cut off from the rest of Yemen; and
b) Asiri is lying about situation in Aden.

Though, by superimposing the battle of Aden over everything else, he's also distracting public attention from the fact that Riyad is doing absolutely nothing against the AQAP in eastern Yemen.

[CrowBat]

While waiting for reports about fighting in Yemen today, here another example of Asiri's lies:

Cited from Saudi Press Agency:

...Brig. Asiri said: 'we received confirmed news stressing that large numbers of the Houthi militias and the Yemeni army who are against the legitimacy are surrendered. The coalition asked the People's Committees in Aden to maintain the security and safety of these element and to deal with them in accordance with a law.'

Brig. Asiri stressed that the coalition forces are still targeting specific objects of the remnants of missile sites and air defense positions as well as barbarous acts carried out by the Houthi militias and their loyalists in Aden which harm the Yemeni society, especially in Aden through shooting the people in the streets and homes, pointing out that the People's Committees in Aden besieged the Houthi militias in Mallika region with existence of a quiet in the other areas in comparison with the previous days.
...

So, according to Asiri: Houthis in Aden besieged in Mallika region...

This is at least a glimpse of what 'encircling a small group of Houthis in Aden' looks like in reality, as reported by the Reuters:

...The Houthi attack in the central Crater neighbourhood, backed by tanks and armoured vehicles, was at least partially repelled, residents said, and Houthi gunmen had also been driven from some northern neighbourhoods.
...

....and then by the BBC, (primarily citing Reuters):

...Fresh fighting has been reported in the southern Yemeni city of Aden between Houthi rebels and militiamen loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Several houses in the central Crater district were set on fire after being hit by rockets as the rebels advanced, residents told the Reuters news agency.

Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition, which backs the government, meanwhile bombed rebel targets to the north.
...
On Wednesday, dozens of rebel fighters and allied troops reportedly pushed into the district of Crater, near the city's port. Residents told Reuters that the rebels were backed by a tank and two armoured vehicles.

They also said that from loudspeakers on Sunni mosques a call had rung out for local people to "rise for jihad" against the attackers.

Reuters also reported three explosions in northern areas of Aden, which residents said were strikes on rebel weapons depots.
...

With other words: Houthis and allied YA units have pushed Hadi-loyalists and separatists of local popular committees out of Mualla and al-Qalwa'a districts, in central Aden, on 7 April, and yesterday continued by pushing into the Crater district. That's where the fighting is going on ever since.

Meanwhile, there is a new battle in northern Aden, i.e. north of the IAP, and this is the only area from which Saudi-led air strikes are reported. However, the situation there is anything but 'clear'.

But Asiri is presistent in lying even more:

...Brig. Asiri added that the coalition forces are keen of no access of any support for the militias in Aden, drawing attention that the military actions inside the districts are risky while the coalition forces are working on the security and safety of the residents, 'the military operations are continuously supporting the People's Committees,' he added.
...
Brig. Asiri pointed out that that air forces of the coalition targeted today site of the brigades, camps and movements that are still supplying the Houthi militias with the military support, including the 33rd Brigade in Dalea, 'the coalition also targeted yesterday and today the so-called brigade 'Glory' in Dalea,' he added.
...

...to call this 'nonsese' would be an understatement.

Just few days ago Asiri was explaining that ad-Dhalea (aka ad-Dhaleh) was 'captured by the popular committees and the resistance from the regular Yemeni Army'.

But now they've got to bomb it - because the local military is supportive for Houthis...?!?

Actually, Dhaleh was captured by a Houthi battalion supported by the locally-based 33rd Armoured Brigade of Yemeni Army already on 29 March. It's because of this that the place is subjected to RSAF air strikes since 31 March. Subsequently, Dhaleh was used as springboard for another Houthi battalion and the 115th Infantry Brigade's attack on AQAP stronghold in Zinjibar, on 29 March. Ever since, this Houthi-YA group is subjected to RSAF-led air strikes too, which - as already explained - means the Royal Saudi Air Force is providing close support to the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Oh, and: Dhaleh was also a springboard for Houthi-led advance on Arqub in Bayda, where the 117th Mechanized Brigade sized with them to fight the local tribal forces and the AQAP.

With other words: the place is of crucial importance, and it remains in 'Houthi' hands, and this wouldn't change even if Asiri learns to walk on his head by tomorrow in the morning.

Thus, the only 'true news' in this war is that the RSAF is now deploying its brand-new Typhoons for ground attacks:

The Saudi Air Force has deployed top Typhoon jets, known for their maneuverability and speed, for the first time in the bombing campaign on Houthi positions in Yemen.
...

[CrowBat]

BREAKING: Pakistani parliament votes not to join Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, urges peaceful dialogue
Sound (and sane) decision.

Moderator's Note

There is a seperate thread Pakistan and Arab World: Security Cooperation,which covers this issue in some depth:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ad.php?t=22113

[CrowBat]

Rumours are flying in Egypt that Sissi should be preparing a force of 40,000 - all from the newly-established Rapid Reaction Corps - for deployment in Yemen.

So far, there is no official confirmation: only members of the Military Council have been informed about related decisions.

[CrowBat]

And now it's starting in Yemen: thugs from Daesh's Wilayat Ataq have beheaded 15 Yemeni troops of the 2nd Mountain Infantry Brigade in Azzan (Shabwah province):

(in Arabic, and WARNING: GRAFFIC!!!)
http://alwatanye.net/82815.htm

Reason: these have sided with Houthis...

...and this is the kind of creatures that the Saud-led aerial strikes are supporting... and that with US support too...

Really, Obama, Kerry & Co KG GesmbH should go there and let themselves get beheaded instead...

[davidbfpo]

A salutary reminder from Mark Stout on WoTR, who briefly examiens the value of WW2 airpower - by the RAF - and today asks:

We have little data on how the air campaigns against ISIL and the Houthis are going. The British experience, however, provides both a practical lesson and a moral lesson for when things start to go wrong in a war — which they always do to a greater or lesser extent. Practically, it is important to ensure that wartime adaptations make intellectual sense and are grounded in war aims and are not just a search for a nail on which to use the existing hammer. This may be a particularly important point regarding the war in Yemen, given the comparative lack of smart munitions in the inventories of the air forces conducting the campaign against the Houthis. Morally, it is important to ensure that frustration does not lead to moral compromises. Many people today regard Bomber Harris as a war criminal.

Link:http://warontherocks.com/2015/04/war.../?singlepage=1

[davidbfpo]

I am never that sure about such articles, even if the SME writes for the Jamestown Foundation and when they cite SOCOM:

Military sources said that a number of regional special forces officers and officers at U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) argued strenuously against supporting the Saudi-led intervention because the target of the intervention, the Shia Houthi movement — which has taken over much of Yemen and which Riyadh accuses of being a proxy for Tehran — has been an effective counter to Al-Qaeda.

(rightly IMHO this question is asked) They’ve been fighting Al-Qaeda since at least 2012, and they’ve been winning. Why are we fighting a movement that’s fighting Al-Qaeda?

Link:http://america.aljazeera.com/article...-bad-idea.html

[Bill Moore]

If this report is correct, both the Houthis and Al-Qaeda are getting stronger in the current crisis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VGo...em-subs_digest

[CrowBat]

...well, actually, the life of Wahhabist Jihadists in Yemen can't get any much better these days.

While Saudis and their glorious allies are systematically demolishing Yemeni Army units that have sided with Houthis (which is 'majority' of the Yemeni Army; I'll come back to this issue later on), or killing scores of civilians while bombing petrol stations and similar places, the AQAP is left free to roam eastern Yemen and establish itself in control of whatever place it only can.

About two weeks ago, the port of Mukalla was overrun by the AQAP. 'Even' David has observed (in one of his posts about a week ago, see above), that not a single coalition air strike has hit the place ever since. Nope: instead of any kind of air strikes, it was the Hadhrami tribes groupped within the Hadramawt People's Council (HPC) that have counterattacked Mukalla about a week ago.

Initially, all possible pro-Saud media outlets reported a glorious counteroffensive, which recovered Mukalla in a matter of hours.

Don't worry: this all was PRBS. This 'counterattack' - if there ever was one - failed. Instead, HPC then made peace with the AQAP, and agreed that two parties are not going to fight each other any more!

Hey, isn't this beautiful? The tribes first declare they're going to secure Mukalla from the AQAP, then run into troubles while trying to capture the place, and eventually sign a deal and make friends with al-Qaida. And that's the kind of people on whom Asiri and Co depend on 'restoring legitimacy'...?

These al-Qaida Jihadists are such lovely blokes. Why fight them? Make friends. This is so wonderful, I can't avoid getting that warm feeling around my hearth...

...but wait: it's getting better!

Free of threat from the HPC; the AQAP - that is: its local unit named 'Sons of Hadramawt' and led by former 'Emir of Abyan' Khalid Batarfi - allied with the tribes groupped within the Hadramawt National Council (HNC, or Majlis ahl-Hadramawt), too.

And since together they are stronk, they launched an offensive to bring all the major local installations under their control.

Two days ago, they captured ad-Dhabah oil terminal. Then they took Rayyan IAP, east of Mukalla, before advancing on two major bases nearby.

Yesterday they have:

- overrun the 190th Air Defence Brigade, and then
- forced the 27th Mechanized Infantry Brigade to surrender.

Hey, perhaps Asiri (Saudi Brig Gen who's acting as spokesperson for the coalition) could now claim these two units to have 'sided with legitimacy' too? After all, they were overrun by al-Qaida, which is Wahhabi, and Wahhabism is state religion in Saudi Arabia. Means: they are 'friends', aren't they'?

But nah... Asiri is quite tight-lipped about such issues. When asked about coalition's intention to target the AQAP, Asiri avoided by explaining that, 'the overall plan does not specify Al-Qaeda or ISIS', only 'scheduled targets to achieve the goals of restoring the legitimacy in Yemen'.

Perhaps Asiri could send a postcard to Batarfi, officially informing al-Qaida there's no reason to be afraid of Saudi-led air strikes?

Overall, I find there is just one reason for dissatisfaction here. Just one: something that's making me even disapointed. Well, a little bit.

Namely, given the USA are usually so fast in putting any organization that's collaborating with al-Qaida on the list of terrorist organizations, I find it disappointing that Obama and Kerry failed to declare the HPC and the HNC for 'terrorist organizations' - and that 5 minutes after this became known.

Please, don't tell me this cannot be done because HPC and HNC are two of many similar groups upon which the Saudis depend for 'restoring legitimacy' in Yemen...

[davidbfpo]

Crowbat,

Are the cited 'brigades', whether mountain, air defence or mechanised really brigades as the West and others would recognise? Or is the term really inflated to describe a weak battallion?

[davidbfpo]

A short account on why the UN mediation / conflict resolution effort failed, from Carnegie; which starts with the past:

For three years, Yemen has been touted as a successful model of international intervention to contain the crisis triggered by the Arab Spring—at least according to the United Nations, various UN Security Council ambassadors, and, most importantly, the UN special adviser on Yemen

Link:http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=59803

[CrowBat]

Crowbat,

Are the cited 'brigades', whether mountain, air defence or mechanised really brigades as the West and others would recognise? Or is the term really inflated to describe a weak battallion?

Average YA brigade is much smaller than anything comparable in the West, of course. Some would be designated 'regiments', few only 'battalions', almost anywhere else.

But about 20 'crack' units, and all of air defence brigades (all of the latter are nominally under the YAF control) used to have full strenght and full complement of weapons (even if not all of these were operational, see most of SA-2s). Indeed, some could have been described as 'reinforced', then they were not only operating the usual complement of 3-4 SAM-battalions (each battalion = one SAM-site), but more of these.

Few of Army units have been overrun and de-facto disarmed by Houthis in recent month and some observers expected them to completely disappear. For example, the 310th Armoured Brigade surrendered to Houthis in Amran, in July 2014, and its CO (Brig Gen Hamid al-Qushaybi) was killed. But, this did not happen: this brigade was reorganized and is still active in Amran area (indeed, it's one of major targets for Saudi-led coalition).

What makes YA's brigades so important is that each is a sort of local centre of political power. Most are are under command of at least a Brig Gen, and officers in question are exercising significant influence upon civilian life in surrounding areas. Their major bases have large stockpiles of ammo, fuel, supplies and - critically important issue - water: this is not only enabling them to survive even longer sieges (some of experiences from recent years have shown that even smaller YA brigades can easily survive up to 4-5 months-long sieges by the AQAP), but is important because otherwise there's so little water in Yemen. Keep in mind: not a single party there lacks arms or ammo (a reason more to belitle all the Saudi, US and Israeli reports about supposed Iranian arms deliveries), but everybody lacks water, and civilians lack fuel too.

Anyway, the point I actually want to make in regards of Yemeni brigades (whether those of the Army or the two of the Navy): because of their importance for civilian life, local media is quite straight in regards of reporting about them, making it relatively easy to establish a very precise ORBAT and follow related developments. Although it's sometimes unknown (to me) how are some of them equipped, their numbers are known, their bases and commanders too.

And now look at these figures:
- 44 brigades of the YA and YAF, and 2 of the YN have sided with Houthis meanwhile, and that figure is solid
- only 4 are confirmed to have sided with 'legitimacy' (i.e. Hadi), no matter what are Saudis babbling
- elements from 3 brigades appear to have sided with separatists (who are cooperating with Hadi, i.e. Saudis, but for their own reasons)
- 3 brigades were overun by AQAP
- status of about 30 other brigades remains unknown (nearly a third of these belong to the YAF, where it seems that most of units operating jet fighters didn't side with Houthis, but most of air-defence- and units equipped with helicopters and transport aircraft did).

This means: Saudis can babble and demand whatever they like about Hadi's 'legitimacy'. Fact on the ground is that more than 50% of the military has sided with Houthis. Fact is that it is this force that is represented in far huger numbers than Houthis (who might have perhaps five battalions of 'regulars'; rest of them are 'local militias'). Fact is that this is presently the strongest 'block' of power in Yemen. Fact is that this block is including not only Zaidis: about a dozen of units are almost exclusivelly manned by Shafis (Yemeni Sunnis). And, fact is that support of these 46 brigades for Houthis is not only 'nominal', yet 'passive' (like that of at least two brigades that sided with Hadi), but 'active': they are out on the battlefield, leading advances into southern Yemen, activelly engaging Hadi-loyalists, separatists, AQAP and the Daesh, or have joined the Houthis in deployments along the Saudi border.

And this means that demands (indeed: ultimatums) of the Saudi-led coalition are hopelessly unrealistic.

Even if Houthis would agree to disarm and withdraw into the Sa'ada province right now, as demanded by 'king' Salman, there would still be 46 brigades of the Yemeni military out there on the battlefields of this war, plus a large number of local/tribal militias supporting them. They're just too many but to simply 'evaporate'.

[CrowBat]

Related to above....

The situation in eastern Yemen - and that with related reporting in Western media - is meanwhile reminiscent of one where Keystone Cops would be trying to catch Laurel, Hardy and Charlie Chaplin...

Reuters is proudly reporting today:

...in a blow to the Houthis, a Yemeni commander of a vast military district covering half the country's border with Saudi Arabia pledged support on Sunday to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, local officials said.

The announcement puts at least 15,000 troops in the desert and mountain border area on the same side as Saudi Arabia, which hosts the embattled Yemeni president in its capital Riyadh.

"Brigadier General Abdulrahman al-Halily of the First Military District announced today his support for constitutional legitimacy as represented by President Hadi," one of the officials told Reuters.
...

Namely, HQ of Halily's 1st Military District (MD) is in Handramawt. He's got only three brigades under his command. These are three of only four YA brigades 100% certain to have sided with Hadi, so far. What kind of a 'big blow to Houthis' should this be?

Furthermore, these three brigades might total 6,000 men, max. Let's add various support services etc: supply tail of the YA is nowhere near the size of that in Western militaries, so if he's got 8,000 in total, he's probably happy.

If Halily has put himself in command of the 2nd MD - which wouldn't surprise me, then this MD has its HQ in Hadramawt too - the situation is not getting any better, then three brigades of that command (23rd Infantry, 27th Mechanized, and the 190th Air Defence) were already overrun by the AQAP.

With other words: Hadi and Saudis are celebrating, and Reuters is sensationalising entirely useless and irrelevant information, related to reality as if somebody is declaring himself for a good cook because grass is green...

Makes no sense to you? It's making no sense to me either.

But wait: that's still not all.

The fourth YA brigade 100% confirmed to have sided with Hadi... the 35th Armoured in Taizz: Saudis are praising this unit for its 'attacks' on 'scattered gangs of Houthis', since something like a week.

Actually, the 35th was ignored by Houthis and YA in their rush to get Aden, so it remained active in their western flank. Was a 'calculated risk' operation: had they got Aden as expected, the 35th would've been left without a choice but to surrender.

OK, that didn't work, and now the 35th is 'torn in the side'. Theoretically. Matter of fact is that this unit didn't do anything at all in the last three weeks. It holed itself inside its own barracks. Meanwhile it's actually under multi-prong attacks of Houthis, plus the Special Security Force (YA), plus few other YA units. Wasn't it for increasingly fierce Saudi-led airstrikes, the 35th would've been overrun already days ago....

But here the point: newest local reports (some of which are already claiming the fall of the 35th) cite that this unit has now received reinforcements from militants of the Islah Party.

Hey, that's fantastic: Islah is closely affiliated with the Moslem Brotherhood. As even swallows on my roof know, Moslem Brotherhood was declared a 'terrorist organization' by Saudi Arabia, something like two years ago.

That means: Saudis, supported by US military (tanker aircraft, plus intelligence), are providing CAS for a group they consider 'terrorists', so these can fight genuine Yemenis that have proven the most fierce enemies of al-Qaida... and at the same time they're celebrating a YA General in Hadramawt for siding with Hadi, although he's lost half his command to AQAP, and even his very HQ is likely to get overrun by Jihadists too...?

Man, I really have problems typing this absurdity: this is so silly, I can't stop laughing...

[CrowBat]

The Saudis continue to lie to themselves, first and foremost. Between others, in his briefing from yesterday, Asiri went on to babble that:

“The coalition will continue to prevent the movement of Houthi militias from moving or undertaking any operations inside Yemen,” Gen. Ahmed Asiri told reporters in Riyadh.

He further stated that, 'Operation Decisive Storm had completed its objectives in Yemen by destroying the ballistic missile capabilities of the al Houthi movement and al Houthi-allied military units'.

As usually, events in Yemen have shown an entirely different picture, exposing complete Saudi inability to influence the ground battle. Indeed, how much have the Saudi-led coalition destroyed 'Houthi-allied military units' was seen already in hours immediately before his briefing.

Namely, the final round of Saudi-led air strikes foremost targeted Houthi and SSF in Taiz area. Nevertheless, shortly before the end of the Op Decisive Storm, Houthis and SSF have overrun the main base of the 35th Armoured Brigade (in the area of the 'old airport'):
Houthis take control of army brigade in Yemen’s Taiz (in Arabic).

The RSAF then flew an additional strike on the main base of this unit (apparently yesterday early in the morning), but it was already too late. Few scattered elements of this unit, plus militants of the Islah Party, are still active though, and the fighting is thus going on.

So, as expected, the war goes on, no matter what is anybody in Riyad daydreaming about.

[CrowBat]

On the sidelines of this war:
The Saudi prince who offered Bentleys to bombers

...Earlier this week Saudi Arabia announced the end of the first phase of its military campaign in Yemen. And in a celebratory gesture Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, one of the country's richest men and a member of the Saudi royal family, tweeted to his 3m followers on Twitter: "In appreciation of their role in this operation, I'm honoured to offer 100 Bentley cars to the 100 Saudi [fighter] pilots". [see here for the copy of the, meanwhile deleted, message]
...
The offer immediately split opinion. More than 28,000 people shared his post and over 5,000 liked it. The prince was hailed for his "generosity" and several Saudis commented that the pilots deserved luxury automobiles - and much more - for their military service.

But many outside Saudi Arabia, particularly in Yemen, found his offer outright offensive - and so an online backlash began. "100 Bentley cars to 100 pilots who bombed Yemen. Not single ambulance to its hospitals they devastated" remarked one Yemeni on Twitter.

Another Yemeni who had previously shared photos showing the destruction of his home following a Saudi air strike tweeted: "Prince Al Waleed gave 100 Bentleys to Saudi pilots. I got my apartment blown up. Yet I bet my spirits are higher than all those pilots."

Others pointed to the disparity between people's lives in Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, and those who live in relatively rich Saudi Arabia. "So that's what it's all about, what was it 100 or 200 lives for a Bentley, that's how cheap human life is," a Jordanian tweeted.

The original tweet offering the gifts has now been deleted, although screen grabs of it are still circulating online. Some Saudi media are now reporting that the prince's Twitter account was hacked. But there was no mention of any hacking on his tweeter feed - and he did not respond to Trending's request for comment.
...

Guess, various pilots involved in fighting the Daesh can only dream about such a 'pay increase'...

[davidbfpo]

A useful primer on AQAP in the Yemen, with details of attacks, locations and types etc - via WoTR:http://warontherocks.com/2015/04/wha.../?singlepage=1

The aithors conclude:

While airstrikes in Yemen are changing the nature of AQAP’s battlespace, they are not yet fundamentally changing the strategic calculus behind a campaign that took shape and evolved well before the Saudi-led intervention.

[CrowBat]

Excellent write-up, thanks for 'heads-up', David.

Only thing I'm missing would be a closer look at increasingly intensive cooperation the AQAP is entering with various of local tribal councils.

They're defeinitely working on establishing permanent presence in most of Hadramawt.

[CrowBat]

...and now in Ma'arib too.

Local reports are indicating that a 'Houthi' force - supported by 10 tanks and 'artillery' (which means: Yemeni Army is involved too) - has reached outskirts of Ma'arib, yesterday.

This town was under the control of YA units that sided with Houthis, in late March. So much so, the Saudis were forced to bomb and knock out most of SAM-sites of the 180th Air Defence Brigade, early during their intervention.

Under subsequent - severe and frequently repeated - Saudi-led air strikes, most of YA units were forced to scatter, enabling a combination of AQAP and local popular committees to take over most of the town.

It seems this 'Houthi' force advancing on Ma'arib is now attempting to lift that 'siege'.

BTW, Saudi-led air strikes have repeatedly targeted that force, during the last two days, but they failed to stop it. At least so far.