One American commander was killed, and three others were injured during a firefight with Al Qaeda militants in Yemen. One of the first counterterrorism efforts by President Donald Trump, the commando was the first United States servicemen to die in a firefight with Al Qaeda militants centralized in Yemen.
The Navy’s Seal Team 6 carried out the operation, engaging 14 Qaeda fighters in a hour-long battle. All 14 were killed, with one of them believed to be related to Anwar al-Awlaki, a top Qaeda leader who died in a 2011 drone strike.
The operation was planned months ago, during Barack Obama’s presidency. During the preceding months, the Obama administration weighed the value of information that they might be able to extract versus the risk posed to special operations.
Ultimately, the administration handed off the operation to Trump.
Trump Thought That the Rewards Was Worth the Gamble
While campaigning to be president, Trump promised a reinforced military presence, quickly pushing forward with the operation as soon as he had control. Commandos waited for a moonless evening this past Saturday, with helicopters and armed drones providing cover and securing a path for the military to move forward. The primary objective was to infiltrate the home of a Qaeda leader in the Bayda Province of Yemen, in the hopes of securing intel inside of a computer that could contain clues to future terrorist attacks.
President Trump has publicly lamented the loss of military personnel, before celebrating the capture of;
“…Important intelligence that will assist the United States in preventing terrorism against its citizens.”
Civilian Deaths
President Trump has explicitly said that he wanted to accelerate fighting against the Islamic State, demanding that military planners draft concrete actions within 30 days after signing an executive order. Some of these military planners introduced initiatives to loosen restrictions that limit risks towards civilians.
A Yemeni resident witnessed a raid, saying that there were warplanes that were bombing local houses in the village. An official said that these houses belonged to a family that has ties to Al Qaeda.
The Yemeni government also said that eight women and seven children were also killed during the raid, and the attack also severely damaged a school, a mosque, as well as a clinic.
How do you think Trump is handling military operations overseas? What are your concerns?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urpW8JuTxiA
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