Report: Al-Qaeda Takes Over Airport in Yemen

Yemen
A view of the historical Radda castle, overtaken by al Qaeda militants, southeast of Yemeni capital Sanaa January 15, 2012. On April 16, 2015, al Qaeda militants took over a Yemen airport. Khaled Abdullah/Reuters

On Thursday morning, al-Qaeda militants took over the Riyan airport in Mukalla, Yemen, according to the Associated Press. The terrorist group has previously attacked Mukalla by releasing prisoners into the city. One of those released is a commander in the organization.

There are no reports of the number killed or injured in the takeover yet, though al-Qaeda forces did encounter Yemen troops at the airport. Nasser Baqazouz, an activist who spoke to the AP, said the troops "put up little resistance" to the militants.

Chaos has increased in Yemen over the last several months, though serious unrest in the country dates back to 2011. The assault on the airport comes just days after Ibrahim al-Rubaish, a high ranking al-Qaeda leader, was killed in a drone strike in Yemen.

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