Pledging to be more transparent about covert U.S. counterterrorism operations overseas, the U.S. Central Command Friday released a list of nine airstrikes conducted so far this year in Yemen against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP.
The previously-unannounced strikes included one on May 19 that killed four AQAP operatives in central Yemen
Altogether the nine strikes in 2016 killed 81 operatives, but none was a “high-value individual,” according to U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Col. Pat Ryder.
“As part of Central Command’s commitment to transparency, we will endeavor to release information about counter-terrorism strikes in places like Yemen, as soon as possible after a strike is conducted, but recognizing there may be times that such announcement may be delayed for operational or intelligence reasons,” Ryder said.
Ryder declined to identify the type of U.S. aircraft that conducted the strikes, but Pentagon officials say drones typically are used.
“AQAP remains a significant threat to the region, the United States and beyond,” said Ryder, reading from a statement.
“Al Qaeda’s presence has a destabilizing effect on Yemen, and it is using the unrest in Yemen to provide a haven from which to plan future attacks against our allies as well as the U.S. and its interests.”
