U.S. military strikes in central Yemen’s Baydah governate have killed five al-Qaida militants in the Arabian Peninsula operatives, U.S. Central Command officials said in a statement Thursday.
A Jan. 21 strike killed three operatives, and strikes conducted Jan. 20 and Jan. 22 each killed one.
"Strikes against al-Qaida operatives in Yemen put consistent pressure on the terrorist network and prevent them from plotting and executing attacks against the U.S. and our allies," said Army Maj. Josh T. Jacques, a Centcom spokesman, adding that the terrorist group remains a significant threat to the region, the United States and beyond.
At least 52 Houthi fighters and their allies were killed in coalition air strikes and heavy clashes between rebel and pro-government forces, security sources said on Sunday.
UN Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed reiterated his call on parties of the Yemeni conflict to put and to violence in order to ease suffering of civil population.
Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a civil war between the government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Shia Houthi rebels backed by supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis.