:Al-Majalah Missile Strikes

The al-Majalah camp attack occurred on December 17, 2009, United States fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at an alleged training camp in Al-Majalah, Abyan, killing 24–50,^[1][2][3] including 14 women and 21 children.

Background

Since 2006, al-Qaeda had managed to regroup and grow stronger as Yemen's government struggles to hold on to its territory amid multiple rebellions and rising poverty.^[4]

The attack

The al-Majalah camp attack took place on December 17, 2009, when Yemeni ground forces attacked an alleged training camp in Al-Majalah, Abyan, killing 24–50,^[2][3] including 14 women and 21 children. Yemeni forces also carried out raids in Sana'a (arresting 13) and Arhab (killing 4 and arresting 4).

US involvement

According to ABC News, American cruise missiles were also part of the raids.^[5][6] The U.S. denied they were involved in the strikes, despite accusations from Amnesty International.^[7]

Aftermath

A primary target in the attacks — Qasim al-Raymi, the al-Qaeda leader who was believed to be behind a 2007 bombing in central Yemen, that killed seven Spanish tourists and two Yemenis — survived the attack.^[4]

Reports of a U.S. role, and mass civilian casualties at the sites of the attacks, have sparked a public outcry and added to anti-American sentiments across the country.^[4]

In Media

• Dirty Wars a 2013 American documentary

See also

• Abdulelah Haider Shaye a prominent Yemeni journalist who was jailed after reporting US involvement in the attack.

References