Fall of Zinjibar and Jaar

Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)

Members of AQAP in a checkpoint in Jaar April 28, 2012

Date

2–3 December 2015 (1 day)

Location

Zinjibar and Jaʿār, Abyan Governorate, Yemen

Result

AQAP victory

Al-Qaeda decleres "Emirate of Jaar" and "Emirate of Zinjibar"

Belligerents

Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen

AQAP

Yemen Army (Hadi government)

Commanders and leaders

Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari

Abd-al-Latif al-Sayyid †

Abdullatif al-Sayed (POW)

Al-Khader Haidan

Ali al-Sayed †

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

5+ killed

22+ killed

AQAP victory

Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen

Yemen Army (Hadi government)

In early December 2015, two Yemeni towns, Zinjibar (the provincial capital of Abyan Governorate) and Ja'ar (a town a few km inland to the north), were captured by the jihadist group Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Zinjibar was retaken by pro-government forces 14 August 2016. 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.

Zinjibar is close to the port of Aden, and the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, and between Aden and (what was) the AQAP's stronghold of Mukalla. 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".

Zinjibar lies on the Gulf of Aden, about 54 km from Yemen's second city Aden, east of the "strategic" strait of Bab al-Mandab (about three million barrels of oil pass through the strait daily). Control of Ja'ar would also have made it easier for AQAP to bring supplies from its (former) stronghold of Mukalla, in Hadramawt province, to attack Aden.

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Wikipedia