WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least seven militants were killed during a raid by U.S. Special Forces troops against an al Qaeda compound in Yemen on Tuesday morning, the Pentagon said, the deepest the United States has penetrated Yemen to target the group. "U.S. forces conducted a counter-terrorism operation against a compound associated with al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula [AQAP], May 23 (Yemen time) in Marib Governorate, Yemen… During this operation, U.S. forces killed seven AQAP militants through a combination of small arms fire and precision airstrikes," the statement said. “Raids such as this provide insight into AQAP’s disposition, capabilities and intentions, which will allow us to continue to pursue, disrupt, and degrade AQAP.” The United States has increased attacks against AQAP – which has taken advantage of the chaos in the impoverished country – since President Donald Trump took office in January. The operation in the early hours of Tuesday came some four months after a botched US commando raid against the group that left more than a dozen civilians dead.
The U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six's raid on an Al Qaeda in Yemen compound in the Ma'rib Governorate kills at least seven militants. SEAL Team Six also suffered unspecified injuries that were treated at the site.