Seven Al-Qaeda jihadis killed by US troops during raid in Yemen
US TROOPS have killed seven jihadis during a raid on a base used by Al-Qaeda militants.
Al Qaeda 15 year after 9/11
Military officials confirmed seven fighters affiliated with the terror cult in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) were killed in the assault with “small arms fire and precision airstrikes”.
It follows another raid by US troops just 24 miles (40km) away just four months beforehand.
Military officials believe no US troops were wounded or killed in the precision strike, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
The raid was carried out primarily to obtain intelligence, and included "focused actions over a fairly large area" outside of the compound.
The raid was carried out to obtain intelligence
A statement from central command 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.”
A spokesman added the night time mission went ahead "in full coordination with Arab partners in the area"
It follows Donald Trump’s campaign to root out terror bases in the Middle East.
In April an MC-130 aircraft dropped a MOAB - the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in US combat history - on a cave complex believed to be populated by ISIS soldiers.
Military officials confirmed seven jihadis were killed
The Afghan Defence Ministry revealed up to 36 Islamic State (ISIS) militants were killed in the blast.
General John Nicholson said at the time: "This weapon was used on ISIS caves and their sanctuary inside Afghanistan.
"The purpose of this operation is to eliminate their sanctuary in Nangarhar.
It follows Donald Trump’s campaign to root out terror bases
"This weapon was very effective in that use. The weapon achieved it's intended purpose.
"This entire offensive, not just the use of a single weapon demonstrates the commitment of the Afghan army the Afghan special forces and their US partners to defeat Daesh in Afghanistan this year."