Pentagon: U.S.-led mission kills 7 militants in Yemeni hideout

SANAA, Yemen — U.S. helicopters airlifted soldiers to a central Yemeni province where they targeted an al-Qaida compound, clashing with suspected militants and killing at least seven of them early Tuesday, according to the American military, Yemeni security officials and tribal leaders.

The Central Command said U.S. forces killed the militants using “a combination of small arms fire and precision airstrikes” to attack the compound, believed to be used as a “safe haven” by senior al-Qaida leaders.

Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said the death toll may be higher, given that an AC-130 gunship was called to the scene after a firefight broke out.

The Defense Department said the operation, led by a team of Navy SEALs, was conducted with the support of Yemen’s government.

According to Yemeni officials, the raid took place in the al-Sirim area in the province of Marib. Tribal members said explosions were heard in al-Sirim, followed by helicopters and gunfire.

The operation, which also included forces from the United Arab Emirates, was launched in part from the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship off Yemen. It aimed to recover digital and other material that could be used for intelligence purposes, and did not target a specific individual, officials said.

Davis said the operation had resulted in modest injuries among U.S. forces, but declined to give additional details. He said there had been no credible reports of civilian casualties.

In a January raid in Yemen shortly after President Donald Trump took office, Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens, 36, of Peoria, Ill., was killed. Three other service members were wounded in that raid.