Battle of Al Masini valley

Battle of Al Masini valley
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present),
the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, and Hadramaut Insurgency
Date17–18 February 2018
Location
Masini valley, Hadramaut Governorate, Yemen
Result

Coalition victory

  • 70% of Al Masini valley cleared of AQAP Islamists[1]
Belligerents
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Hadrami Elite Force
 United Arab Emirates
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Maj. Gen. Faraj al-Bahsani
Units involved
Sons of Hadhramaut Hadrami Elite forces
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
19 killed[2] 8 killed[2]
  • v
  • t
  • e
Yemeni Crisis
Revolution (2011–12)
  • Saada
  • Sana'a
  • Taiz
  • Dammaj

Ansar al-Shariah campaign (2011–14)

  • Zinjibar
  • Dofas
  • Abyan
  • 2012 Sana'a
  • Radda
  • Nov 2013 Sanaa
  • Dec 2013 Sana'a
  • Rescue operations

Houthi rebellion (2014)

Civil war (2014–present)

Bombings and terrorist attacks in Yemen

Houthi missile and drone attacks in Yemen


Saudi-led intervention (2015–present)
Attacks
  • Attacks on the MV Maersk Hangzhou
  • 2023 attack on the Chem Pluto
  • Marlin Luanda missile strike
  • Sinking of the MV Rubymar

Military operations

Diplomacy

Effects

Humanitarian crisis
  • Blockade
  • Disease outbreaks
  • Famine
  • Locust infestation
  • Refugees on Jeju Island
  • War crimes and human rights violations
  • The battle of Al Masini valley, code named Operation Al Faisal by the coalition, was an operation to clear the Al-Qaeda controlled stronghold of Al Misini valley in Hadramut province.[2]

    Background

    Battle

    On February 17, 2018 Hadrami Elite Forces, backed by heavy UAE aerial support, launched Operation Al-Faisal, an offensive to retake Al-Masini Valley from AQAP militants. The offensive began when Hadrami Elite Forces launched a preemptive attack from three directions, that laid siege to all AQAP militants in the valley. On February 18 Hadrami Elite Forces had entered the valley and begun to slowly retake all areas in and around the valley. After fierce fighting for 48 hours, AQAP militants retreated from the valley and Hadramai forces gained full control over an operation room that was run by AQAP militants in the valley and confiscated the equipment and ammunition used by the terror group in carrying out its criminal operations. The governor of Hadhramaut, Major General Faraj al-Bahsani declared that the operation was a success and that others like it, will follow until the region was fully rid of AQAP. Furthermore, while combing the area, large caches of ammunition, including mortar guns and missiles were found and the Yemeni forces secured the entire zone by staging military posts and patrol units across the surrounding plateaus to preempt any counter offensives by the AQAP militants.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][2][10]

    Aftermath

    After AQAP retreated, Hadrami Elite chased them for several kilometers before ceasing pursuit and establishing positions and checkpoints.[11][12]

    References

    1. ^ "تطهير 70% من معقل القاعدة في حضرموت اليمنية". 19 February 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    2. ^ a b c d "Clashes leave 27 dead as Yemen troops target Al-Qaeda". Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    3. ^ "براقش نت - الإعلان عن تطهير آخر معاقل القاعدة في حضرموت". Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
    4. ^ "التحالف العربي يطلق "عملية الفيصل" لتطهير حضرموت". 18 February 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    5. ^ "Armed forces purge al-Qaeda from Mesinivalley of Hadhramout". وكالة الانباء اليمنية Saba Net :: سبأ نت. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    6. ^ "gulftoday.ae - Supporter by UAE, Arab Coalition starts 'Al Faisal Operation' against Al Qaeda strongholds". gulftoday.ae. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    7. ^ "Bahrain News Agency - Coalition begins to sweep Al Qaeda from Hadramaut". www.bna.bh. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    8. ^ Almasdaronline. "Arab Coalition starts 'Al Faisal Operation' against Al 'Qaeda' strongholds". Almasdaronline.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-19. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
    9. ^ "إحكام السيطرة على أهم أوكار القاعدة في حضرموت". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    10. ^ WAM/Hatem Mohamed (2018-02-22). "وكالة أنباء الإمارات - Yemen's Wadi Al Masini liberated from Al Qaeda". Wam.ae. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
    11. ^ الإلكترونية, صحيفة سبق. "اليمن.. النخبة الحضرمية تُواصل عملية الفيصل ضد القاعدة في حضرموت". Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    12. ^ "تطهير 70% من معقل القاعدة في حضرموت". 18 February 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    • v
    • t
    • e
    Yemeni civil war (2014–present)
    Background
    Battles
    and attacks
    Reactions
    Impacts
    Belligerents
    Alimi government
    Houthi government
    People
    Alimi government
    Houthi government
    Related
    • v
    • t
    • e
    1910s
    1920s
    1930s
    1940s
    1950s
    1960s
    1970s
    1980s
    1990s
    2000s
    2010s
    2020s
    This list includes World War I and later conflicts (after 1914) of at least 100 fatalities each
    Prolonged conflicts are listed in the decade when initiated; ongoing conflicts are marked italic, and conflicts with +100,000 killed with bold.
    • v
    • t
    • e
    History
    Modern
    Conflict related attacks
    Yemen
    Geography
    Politics
    Military
    Economy
    Society
    Culture
    • Category

    14°39′54″N 48°54′00″E / 14.665°N 48.900°E / 14.665; 48.900