Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed that it took revenge on America and shelled a joint U.S.-European airbase in the Lahij province of Yemen, the Long War Journal reports.
Ansar al-Sharia, the front group for AQAP, claimed that this attack against U.S. interest was in retaliation for the rescue attempt in which the U.S. sought to release several AQAP hostages, including 33-year-old American journalist Luke Somers. That operation failed and Somers died, along with several AQAP terrorists. AQAP named Friday’s attack “Taking revenge for Our Martyrs.”
The attack was announced through an AQAP-controlled Twitter account. According to that account, the rocket attack took place 2:10 a.m. AQAP’s Hamdi al Tha’alabi Brigades launched six Grad rockets at the “American division at the al Annad base.
Nasr Bin Ali Al Ansi, one of the terrorist leaders, said in a video published on the group’s twitter account that the U.S could have “could have at least negotiated with us about some clauses or show sincerity” regarding the hostages. He blamed them for making “things to go in a completely different way than we wanted.”
The group wanted to exchange the hostages for the release of some detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
Local media reported that an attack took place around that time at the al Annad airbase. Ambulances reportedly transported victims to a nearby hospital.
The al Annad airbase is reportedly where American-led coalition forces have their military advisers assisting the Yeminis in combating AQAP. It is the largest military airbase in Yemen, and is located in the south of the country.
AQAP also claimed it was responsible for a double improvised explosive device (IED) attack at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a last month.
These latest attacks on U.S. military advisers may become political fodder for the Democratic party during the upcoming presidential campaign, which the implacable leftists will claim as evidence that “no boots on the ground” does not mean Americans won’t get killed. Such political considerations may also play a role in the decision making about how or whether to respond to this attack.