TAMPA, Fla., June 17, 2016 — The U.S. military conducted three counterterrorism strikes June 8-12 against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula in central Yemen, killing six al-Qaida operatives and injuring one, U.S. Central Command officials announced today.   

A strike June 8 in Badya governorate resulted in the deaths of two al-Qaida operatives along with the destruction of their vehicle loaded with weapons, officials said. Another strike conducted June 10 in Marib governorate killed two al-Qaida operatives. A June 12 strike in Shabwah governorate killed two more al-Qaida operatives, injured another, and destroyed the vehicle they were traveling in.

Significant Regional Threat

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula remains a significant threat to the region, the United States and beyond, Centcom officials said in a statement announcing the strikes. Al-Qaida’s presence has a destabilizing effect on Yemen, they said, and the organization is using the unrest in Yemen to provide a haven from which to plan future attacks against U.S. allies, as well as against the United States and its interests.

“The U.S. will not relent in its mission to degrade, disrupt and destroy al-Qaida and its remnants,” the statement said. “We remain committed to defeating [al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula] and denying it safe haven regardless of its location.