Al Bayda Governorate clashes (2013–14)

Al Bayda Governorate clashes (2013–14)
Part of the al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen and Houthi takeover in Yemen
Date May 20, 2013 – December 16, 2014 Location Al Bayda Governorate, Yemen Result Partial Houthi victory AQAP aligned with Qaifa tribe Houthis take control of Rada'a Massive casualties from the Houthi side AQAP and tribesmen fiercely besiege Rada'a and Al Bayda province
Belligerents
Al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Ansar al-Sharia Other Islamic militants	Yemen Military of Yemen Tribal fighters People's Committees Popular Resistance  United States	Houthi government	Al-Qaifa tribe	Al-Rashad Union
Commanders and leaders
Qaed al-Dahab  † Shawki al-Badani  † Nabil al-Dahab  † Abdulraouf al-Dhahab Ayyash al Eid  † Ahmad Jarallah  † Abu Maysara Al Hanaki  †	Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi Major General Mohammed Ali al Maqdashi al Bayda governor Al Thaheri al Shaddadi Colonel Khalid al Dhala’ai Maj. Gen. Ahmed Ali Major General Ali Mohammed Salah Ahmed Al-Azani	Abdul-Malik al-Houthi Abdullah Idris	Sheikh Saif ,Sheikh Muhammad al Awbli Basil al-Salami Mehdi Salah al-Mansouri	Sheikh Abdullah bin Muhammad al Nahidi
Strength
400–1,000+	1,000 in Rada'a, 8,000 in the rest of Bayda	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
53-63- killed 300-400 killed according to Abaad Studies & Research Center	14 killed, 4 captured and 2 wounded	358+ killed, 12 captured 1,000 killed according to Abaad Studies & Research Center	28-35 killed	1 wounded
51-68 civilians killed, 14-44 civilians wounded

Partial Houthi victory

Al-Qaeda

 Yemen

Al Bayda Governorate clashes (2013–14) refers to clashes in the province of Al Bayda that re-erupted after previous clashes some months before. The main actors during the clashes were president Hadi loyalist forces, Al-Qaeda, local tribes, and Houthi's.

Fighting began in Rada'a in early 2012, when Tariq al-Dahab led an invasion in the city. His reign however ended after his half-brother killed him over a political dispute. Intense fighting continued in Al Bayda until 31 of January, 2013, when AQAP came to a ceasefire with the government to end hostilities. Negotiations between Yemeni government forces and the Dhahab family through tribal intermediaries regarding hostilities in the military campaign in al Bayda governorate, and the release of Western hostages captured by AQAP and held in Rada'a continued on February 2. As a part of the negotiations, AbdulRaoof al Dhahab confirmed Ansar al Sharia forces were prepared to leave the region during an interview by the press. In March, clashes erupted in Rada'a because the failure of the negotiations leaving dozens dead.

On May 20, 2013, US drone strikes began again to target AQAP militants after the failed negotiations, injuring mistakenly two civilians in Rada'a. Sheikh Abdullah bin Muhammad al Nahidi, manager of the channel owned by the Salafist Rashad Union, survived an assassination attempt in ‘Aza, al Bayda city on August 17. His nephew was wounded in the attack. On August 30, 2013, AQAP Emir in Rada'a, Qaed al-Dahab killed by a drone strike in Rada'a after his wedding party, alonfside four of his guards. In October 7, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula attacked a Hadi loyalist-held checkpoint in Rada’a, killing 8 soldiers and capturing 4 others. The attackers also stole two armed pickup trucks. On December 12, 2013, a US airstrike killed 12-17 civilians in a wedding party, and injured 5-30 more. US department of state, stated that the targed was AQAP's emir of Al-Bayda, Shawki al-Badani. On January 6, 2014, a done strike imjured 2 civilians mistakenly, in Radaa district. In April 19, a drone strike killed 10 AQAP fighters, 4 civilians, and wounded another five civilians, in As Sawma'ah District.

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Wikipedia