News / Yemen

US drone strike leaves two dead in southwestern Yemen

Saturday, 08 April 2017 5:40 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 08 April 2017 5:41 PM ]

This file photo shows a US MQ-9 Reaper drone firing a Hellfire missile.

At least two people have lost their lives when a US unmanned aerial vehicle carried out a strike in the southwestern Yemeni province of Bayda.

Yemeni security sources, who were speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Saturday that the drone strike had hit a motorbike carrying two people, suspected to be al-Qaeda members, in Sawma’ah district of the province the previous evening.

The al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has taken advantage of the chaos and breakdown of security in Yemen to tighten its grip on the southern and southeastern parts of the Arab country.

The US carries out drone attacks in Yemen and several other countries, claiming to be targeting al-Qaeda elements; but, local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks.

The Pentagon says it has carried out over 70 airstrikes in Yemen since February 28.

The drone strikes in Yemen continue alongside the Saudi military aggression against the impoverished conflict-ridden country.

Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 in an unsuccessful attempt to reinstate the regime of Yemen's former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a staunch ally of Saudi Arabia, and to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement.

This photo taken on March 16, 2017 shows Yemeni children walking outside a school that was damaged in a Saudi airstrike in the southern Yemeni city of Ta’izz. (Photo by AFP)

The Riyadh regime has, however, failed to reach its goals despite going to great expense.

On Saturday, Saudi fighter jets carried out 14 airstrikes against al-Malahit area in the al-Dhahir district of Yemen’s northwestern province of Sa’ada, Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or the extent of damage.

Saudi jets also pounded Kahboub area of southwestern Lahij Province on four occasions, with no words on possible casualties available.

Separately, Saudi military aircraft launched three aerial attacks against al-Jar area of Abs district in the northwestern province of Hajjah, located approximately 130 kilometers northwest of the capital, Sana’a.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk