Shabwah Governorate offensive (2014-2016)

Shabwah Governorate offensive (2014-2016) Part of Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen and the Yemeni civil war (2015–present) AQAP fighters manning a checkpoint at the town of Azzan in April of 2012. Date 2014–present Location Habban District and Azzan, Shabwah Governorate Yemen Status Ongoing Al Qaeda captures Habban and Azzan Pro-Hadi fighters recapture Azzan Belligerents Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen AQAP Yemen United States United Arab Emirates Commanders and leaders Yasser al Marouh Unknown Casualties and losses 25+[1][2] 12+[3][4]

Yemeni Crisis Revolution (2011–12) Sa'dah 1st Sana'a Zinjibar Ta'izz Dammaj Transition and AQAP campaign (2012–13) Dofas Abyan (2012) Sana'a Radda (2013) Sana'a (2013) Houthi rebellion (2014–15) Dammaj Amran 2nd Sanaa Houthi takeover Rescue operations Rada' Ibb Sana'a Police Academy Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Aden Airport Sana'a mosques Ad Dali' Saudi-led intervention Aden 1st Abyan Lahij Najran Shabwah 1st Al Mukalla Ta'izz Ma'rib missile strike Sana'a mosque (2nd) Aden unrest (October 2015 - ) Aden hotel attack 1st Aden Aden Christian attack 2nd Aden 3rd Aden 4th Aden 5th Aden Zinjibar and Jaar Taiz missile strike Port Midi 2nd Abyan 2nd Al Mukalla 3rd Al Mukalla 4th Al Mukalla Sana'a funeral airstrike

Shabwah Governorate offensive (2014-2016) refers to an ongoing campaign by AQAP to take control of Shabwah Governorate, during their insurgency, and until today, at Yemeni civil war.

Habban incidents

Despite the AQAP haven't presence in the Habban district, the first violent events reported in the mid-March 2014, when three AQAP militants were reported killed while setting up a car as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). According to tribal sources, the explosion occurred near the house of the al Qaeda commander of the Sabban, Yasser al Marouh. Yemeni security forces were able to identify the three militants killed and said that two were Yemeni and one was a Saudi national. The house was severely damaged by the blast but is not confirmed if the commander he was present when it happened. They also reported that two bystanders were injured by the explosion and were rushed to Azzan Hospital in the province. One additional bystander was killed. Sources in the Yemeni security services told Arabic news outlets that they assumed the VBIED was being set up for use in an operation targeting Yemeni military or security personnel. They stated that Shabwa, Hadramawt, Abyan, and Al Bayda provinces have been battlegrounds for an open war between al Qaeda and Yemeni security personnel that has lasted for over two years and caused the deaths of hundreds.^[5] In early August, 2014, fierce fighting broke out in Habban and in the Shabwan border with Hadramaut, wits is left 12 Yemeni soldiers and 9 AQAP soldiers dead.^[3][4] At the beginning of the Yemeni civil war in meddle of 2015, AQAP fully captured Habban expelling Yemeni loyals to Hadi out of the city. In April 17 of 2015, 2 AQAP fighters have killed by an US airstrike in the town of Habban.^[6] 4 AQAP fighters killed in Shabwah after a US drone strike, in 3 March 2016.^[7]

Azzan capture

In February 1, 2016, AQAP captured Azzan, without a bit of resistance by the population or the Yemeni army. AQAP then begin to establish Sharia law like they did previously in the town of Zinjibar, Jaar and the other town that have captured. Reports sayd that AQAP executed some civilians that allegedly committed adultery.^{[6][8][9][10][11]} In 30 of March 2016, a suspected US drone strike, killed 4 AQAP soldiers, that manning a checkpoint around the outskirts of Azzan.^[12]

Government recaptures Azzan

In April 25, 2016, pro-Hadi loyalists along with UAE soldiers entered Azzan after AQAP retreated from the town without a fight. A day before the AQAP withdrawal, a suspected US drone strike attacked AQAP fighters in Azzan killing more than 8 fighters.^[13][14]

References

Yemeni Civil War
Part of Aftermath of the 2014–15 Yemeni coup d'état
Past events	Battle of Amran Battle of Sana'a Battle of Radaa 2014–15 Yemeni coup d'état Abduction of Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak Battle of Sanaa Constitutional declaration for the Houthis Agreements Peace and national partnership agreement Agreement January 21, 2015
Battles	Battle of Aden Airport Battle of Aden Battle of Ad Dali' Lahij insurgency Battle of Marib (2015) Battle of Taiz Shabwah campaign Abyan campaign Other 2015 Sana'a mosque bombings Hota Massacre Battle of Al Mukalla (2015) Bombing Marzaq camp Bombing Dahra Battle of Al Mukalla (2016)
Parties and powers	Mansur Hadi Government Military of Yemen South resistance People's Committees in Yemen Southern Movement Yemen's tribes Hadhramaut Tribal Alliance Forces Fourth Military Region Armored brigade 35 111 Infantry Brigade Third Military Region 112 Infantry Brigade Houthis Government Revolutionary Committee Houthis Army Pro-Ali Abdullah Saleh Republican Guard Forces Republican Guard Special Operations Forces Special Security Forces Yemeni Air Force
People	Mansur Hadi Government Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi Khaled Bahah Mahmoud al-Subaihi Thabit Jawas Houthis Government and their allies Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi Abu Ali Al Hakim Mohammed Ali al-Houthi Saleh Al Samad Abdul-Khaliq al-Huthi army Pro-Ali Abdullah Saleh Ali Abdullah Saleh Ahmed Saleh Abdullah Dabaan Abdul-Hafiz al-Saqqaf Abdul Razzaq Almrona Abdullah Khairan Zakaria Yahya al-Shami Hussein Khairan
Places	Sana'a Taiz Governorate Taiz Mocha, Yemen Lahij Governorate Lahij Aden Ad Dali' Governorate
Reactions external	Military 2015 military intervention in Yemen Timeline of Operation Restoring Hope