The Abyan conflict was a series of clashes between forces of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) loyal to Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and forces loyal to Southern Movement for the control of Abyan Governorate between 2016 and 2018.
Background
Abyan Governorate was a stronghold for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula at the beginning of the Yemeni civil war. AQAP was beginning to take pieces of southern Abyan in late 2016, when they captured Zinjibar and other towns. An internal crisis erupted in Abyan between the legitimate AQAP emir, Tawfiq Belaidi (brother of the late AQAP emir Hamza al-Zinjibari) and another AQAP warlord named Abu Anas al-Sanani, over who would succeed Hamza. It is unclear who won the day, but the conflict killed 7 and wounded 9.
Clashes and other incidents On February 21, AQAP militants withdrew from Ahwar city, after a failed attempt to consolidate control. AQAP militants attacked a popular resistance checkpoint, killing three, before erecting their own checkpoints and flying al-Qaeda's flag from government buildings.
Militiamen from the Bakazim tribe massed outside Ahwar in response. AQAP agreed to withdraw under the terms of a tribal mediation allowing the group free passage through the city.
On March 8, AQAP gunmen abducted government official Haidara Daha at al Musaymir, west of Zinjibar. AQAP was consolidating control in Abyan governorate and targeted local leaders and officials opposed to its expansion.
On March 26–27, three US drone strikes killed eight AQAP members and three beekeepers in Al Mahfad District. Two Saudi planes launched rockets into an old office of the local government in Zinjibar, setting the building on fire. 10 AQAP fighters were believed to be killed.
On April 8, more than 35 Hadi Yemeni government soldiers were captured by AQAP soldiers in Ahwar. 17-20+ of them were executed by firing squad. The others were wounded but still alive, while others were believed to have escaped and reached safety. The soldiers were travelling from Aden to Al Mahrah Governorate via Ahwar, and were ambushed while passing Ahwar.
On April 9, AQAP denied that its fighters executed the soldiers, blaming a local fighter named Ali Aqel. "We entered Ahwar around two months ago to chase this corrupt individual and his gang", the statement said.
On April 14, an airstrike hit an AQAP checkpoint in the Al Kawd, killing 10 AQAP militants. tribal fighters loyal to Hadi ambushed an AQAP convoy in Mafhad, killing 3, including a commander, Amjad al-Wahti.
On April 17, two airstrikes hit Zinjibar, targeting the house of Tariq al-Fadhli. No information about casualties was provided.
Ground offensive On April 22, Hadi loyalists and their partners prepared to attack Zinjibar in a ground offensive. Southern Movement leader Omar Jardana from Hadramaut escaped an AQAP prison in Zinjibar, traveling to Aden. An airstrike on an AQAP HQ in Zinjibar killed 8 terrorists. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) commander Radwan Qanan was also killed, during an apparent meeting with al Qaeda there. Two other AQAP commanders, Abu Salem al-Adani and Abu Hamza al-Shabwani, were killed. Four other AQAP fighters were killed.
On April 23, the battle began, but the forces of Hadi loyalists retreated after AQAP militants detonated a car bomb (VBIED) targeting an army convoy that killed 4 loyalists and injured 14 others. Reports indicated that AQAP had planned additional VBIED attacks. The Hadi government gave AQAP a 24-hour window in which to peacefully withdraw. Loyalists carried out another offensive in Jaʿār, that killed 25 AQAP militants and four soldiers and seized al Koud, three miles south of Zinjibar. Hadi loyals, cleared the entrance of Abyan (Aden-Abyan border). They advanced towards the city of Al Koud and expelled al-Qaeda stationed in the prison and on the coastal strip along the international stadium east of Zinjibar. According to officials, army forces were reached at the gates of the city of Zinjibar. The army reached Dofas, but was attacked by AQAP. Two soldiers were killed. AQAP did not agree with the deal that loyalists offered to them, so they remained in Zinjibar.
On April 26, a U.S. airstrike targeted a car carrying al Qaeda militants that was traveling between Ja’ar and Zinjibar. The strike killed 5 AQAP fighters, including local commander Abu Sameh al-Zinjibari.
Al Qaeda militants arrived in Zinjibar on April 27, after fleeing the coalition-led recapture of their stronghold in Mukalla, Hadramawt on April 23. Residents of Zinjibar demonstrated against AQAP on April 29, the first such demonstration since AQAP captured the city in December 2015. The demonstrators called for the liberation of Zinjibar from AQAP, emphasizing they would not allow their city to become a base for militant activity.
AQAP retreats and comebacks
AQAP agreed to begin withdrawing from Zinjibar on May 3. AQAP had previously reinforced positions in western Abyan governorate ahead of a planned government offensive, but later agreed to begin withdrawing its forces after further negotiations. The group reportedly agreed on April 30 to withdraw from Zinjibar on the condition that government forces not enter the city and that local militias not resume their activities. AQAP sought guarantees that its members would remain immune from future prosecution. Local mediators gave the group three days to withdraw before a clearing operation on May 3, but offered an extension to avert a costly battle. Al Qaeda began withdrawing on May 5, evacuating several governmental buildings and retreating towards Shabwah Governorate.
On June 20, AQAP made a brief comeback in western Abyan, when they raided the central prison in Jaar, freeing prisoners and escaping unharmed. Citizens in western Abyan reported that AQAP troops were operating freely in Jaar and Zinjibar at the end of June, less than two months after it had withdrawn.
On June 28, an airstrike targeted the home of AQAP leader Qasim al-Raymi, killing five people, including two family members. Qasim survived the attack some wounds.
On July 20, the government announced an operation to clear Al Qaeda in western Abyan.
On July 22, AQAP soldiers assassinated Colonel Saeed Salim al-Mul in Zinjibar.
On July 24, reported coalition airstrikes targeted AQAP fighters near al Husn city. The airstrikes killed multiple fighters and destroyed vehicles.
On August 7, AQAP militants killed Yemeni Colonel Abdullah Shamba in Abyan.
On August 14, Hadi loyalists, alongside Sudanese troops, and pro-Hadi tribal fighters, invaded Shaqrah, Zinjibar and Jaar, and recaptured them from AQAP, killing some 40 fighters.
On August 15, AQAP detonated a suicide car bomb in Shaqrah, killing four and wounding another four Hadi loyalists.
On August 17, AQAP withdrew from most of Abyan after Hadi government and popular resistance forces drove them out of Lawder city and Ahwar district. The militants withdrew towards al Bayda city in al Bayda governorate, northwest of Lawder city.
On August 18, an AQAP suicide bomber killed at least three government soldiers in Lawder.
On August 22, Saudi airstrikes targeted AQAP fighters in Al Mahfad District, the last AQAP stronghold in Abyan.
On August 23, AQAP's remaining fighters withdrew to Mahfad after tribal forces led by pro-Hadi tribal forces expelled them from Wadea.
On August 26, Hadi-allied forces entered al Mahfad district to clear AQAP militants from the town, resulting in the complete elimination of AQAP from strongholds in Abyan.
Small attacks and AQAP comeback AQAP returned to Abyan in mid-September 2016, with small attacks against security forces.
On September 14 militants attacked security forces in al ‘Ayn city, Abyan governorate. AQAP militants killed two Hizam security forces after approaching a checkpoint dressed in military uniforms.
On September 15 Al Qaeda mortars targeted security forces in Mudia district. Hizam security forces attempted to clear the mortar site following the attack. Fighting erupted in western and northern Abyan, with many gunfights.
On September 23 one soldier was killed in Zinjibar after an AQAP attack. As of September 26, AQAP had returned to Lawder and Al Wade'a District, fighting Hizam troops, resulting in the death of AQAP commander Abdullah Saeed Habibat and the capture of Abu Osama Al-Yasiri in Al Wadea. Two militants and one Hizam troop were killed in the clashes.
As of October 6, AQAP had made a comeback in al Mafhad district by attacking security forces, killing at least one Hizam soldier.
On October 20 fighting erupted in Zinjibar and Lawder that left 12 Hizam troops and 7 AQAP dead.
On October 27 fighting in Lawdar left three security forces and one AQAP commander dead. Seven AQAP fighters were arrested after clashes in Zinjibar and Lawdar. In mid-November During a 2-hour battle in Lawder and Jaar, AQAP stole heavy machine guns and supplies from Hizam troops.
On November 20 AQAP attacks killed more than three AQAP troops in Lawdar.
On November 27 Hizam arrested two AQAP in Jaar.
On December 20 5 Hizam troops were killed in Lawdar by AQAP attacks.
On December 30, a US drone strike killed AQAP Emir of Lawdar in Al Bayda Governorate, Jalal Al-Seydi, and his bodyguard, Abu Bilal al-Lawdari. After his death, AQAP retook control of Lawder.
In the dawn of January 3, 2017, AQAP fighters ambushed al-Hizam troops in the outskirts of the Shuqrah district, southern Abyan. Three Hizam troops were killed and many injured. After the incident, clashes erupted between Hizam troops who not been strategically positioned. During the conflict many Hizam troops were injured. Hadi loyal soldiers attacked AQAP forces in al-Maraqisha mountains, with more than 40 armored vehicles, but AQAP ambushed them before their attack. The death toll was 15 terrorists and 11 Hadi loyals.
On January 4 AQAP attacked Hizam troops in Lawder and Shuqrah, killing three and wounding two. Two AQAP soldiers were killed.
On January 9 Hizam and security forces troops officially withdrew from northern Abyan, leaving the territory to AQAP warlords, after intense fights in Lawdar and Shuqrah, giving AQAP complete control and strongholds in Abyan, 4 months after it withdrew from Abyan.
On January 11 AQAP attacked an Al Hizam convoy that was leaving Lawdar, wounding Hizam General Amin al-Saqqaf, alongside four of his bodyguards. One Hizam soldier was killed.
On January 13 clashes erupted in eastern Lawder, but with no casualties or injuries in both sides.
On January 18 AQAP ambushed Hizam troops in Zinjibar, killing one Hizam soldier and injuring many others before fleeing the scene.
On January 19 AQAP attacked Hizam fighters in Shuqrah, killing and wounding many. The same day, AQAP deployed its troops in Khanfir District, a southern Abyan city, with a population of 100,000 inhabitants. Hizam withdrew from central and southern Abyan, going to Aden, leaving the province to AQAP. At the time, a meeting in Zinjibar by security commanders of Abyan province. The meeting gathered Mohammed Al-Oban, commander of Zinjibar sector, Mazen Junaidi, commander of Shuqrah and Awhar sectors and Ali Deeb Boumhal Alkazmi, commander of the security forces. The commander vowed to terminate the Hizam forces commander, Abdullah Al-Fadhli, due to his failures against AQAP.
On January 28 AQAP militants ambushed Hizam security forces in central Abyan governorate, killing commander Rushdi al Alwani and three al Hizam troops. AQAP militants claimed to seize al Hizam weapons after the ambush. AQAP also shelled a security headquarters in Zinjibar.