(Long War Journal) — According to Al Sharq al Awsat Online (in Arabic), al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has regained control of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan province, during fighting over the past several days. A translation of a portion of the Al Sharq al Awsat article is provided below:
Meanwhile, local sources said that presumed gunmen of al Qaeda took control of most of the Zinjibar City in the Governorate of Abyan yesterday. The sources told Al-Sharq al-Awsat the gunmen attacked military positions with mortar shells and machineguns forcing the army forces to retreat to the approaches to the city and reassemble in preparation for a counterattack. The sources said that the gunmen attacked the headquarters of the 39th Armored Brigade using mortar shells from the Hassan Stadium and Qal’at Shaddad.’ One soldier was killed and four others wounded while the number of the dead among the armed men was not known, the sources added.The sources said that forces of the 119th Brigade, which has been stationed in Zinjibar since late September, came under an attack yesterday morning by gunmen in the Al-Kud Area where the forces are deployed. The gunmen also mined the roads between Aden City and Abyan to prevent the arrival of any supplies to the army, amid reports that the gunmen retook control of the city.
The city has been the scene of violent clashes between army forces and gunmen believed to belong to al Qaeda for three days now. The gunmen launched an attack on the army camps using various types of medium- and large-caliber weapons. As a result, many people were killed and wounded on both sides. In addition, seven soldiers, including an officer from the 25th Mechanized Brigade, were kidnapped on Tuesday. It is recalled that the 25th Mechanized Brigade came under a heavy siege by al Qaeda for more than three months before army forces, supported by US and Saudi planes, managed to break the siege and expel the Al-Qa’ida gunmen.
Keep in mind that three Yemeni brigades, one infantry, one mechanized, and one armored, are involved in the fighting in Zinjibar.