(Previous Incident Code: YEM228 )

A US air or drone strike hit in Azzan on April 25 however the exact death toll is unclear.

The Pentagon said a counter-terrorism strike had killed two AQAP fighters in a strike in Azzan. However news reports put the death toll at nine or 10.

The attack hit during an advance by the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia against al Qaeda’s base in southern Yemen. The seven or eight dead reported in the press in addition to the two reported killed by US Central Command may have perished in a strike by the Saudi-led coalition.

On Sunday the Coalition forces conducted airstrikes against AQAP in the southeastern provincial capital of Mukalla, 230 kilometers away from Azzan. About 2,000 Yemeni and Emirati troops advanced on the al Qaeda-held port city, according to a Reuters report citing local residents and officials.

“We entered the city center (of Mukalla) and were met by no resistance from al Qaeda militants who withdrew west,” towards the vast desert in Hadramawt and Shabwa provinces, a military officer told AFP. Early reports citing medical sources and residents said airstrikes killed at least 30 militants.

Ground troops that moved on the city were made up of members of the Yemeni army, supported by Special Forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Air strikes were carried out by the coalition.