AQAP, which has always been entrenched in Yemen, is regarded by Washington as the network’s most unsafe branch and has carried out deadly attacks on the West.
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Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, says the USA has provided airborne surveillance, medical support, refueling and maritime interdiction.
The ground forces are supported from the sea by what the military calls an “amphibious readiness group”, comprised of the assault ship USS Boxer, destroyers USS Gravely and USS Gonzalez, as well as quick-response Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The pro-Saudi forces who control parts of southern Yemen recently took the port of Mukallah from AQAP, and are said to be keen to contest more of there territory.
The special operations troops are supporting Yemeni and Emirati troops against al Qaeda militants near the city of Mukalla.
The military’s special operation troops are assisting Yemeni and Emirati forces in their fight against al Qaeda.
The deployment of American personnel to support UAE in this limited operation could show increasing USA willingness to re-engage on the ground. The Pentagon has provided some intelligence and aerial support to the Saudi-led air war.
The development comes after forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government last month drove out al-Qaida militants from what had been their stronghold further down the coast, the city of Mukalla, a year after they captured it.
Davis said the United States has conducted four strikes against al-Qaeda militants since April 23, killing 10 militants and wounding one. US officials have long encouraged Saudi Arabia to broaden its focus in Yemen beyond the Houthis, and have also complained of high civilian casualties in a conflict that has killed at least 6,000 people.
The Pentagon confirmed Friday that the USA has had troops on the ground in Yemen for roughly two weeks. The envoy urged them to note that the violations impede fragile U.N.-brokered peace talks underway in Kuwait, according to the official Kuwait News Agency.
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At the time, US officials said the move was necessary but anxious that pressure on AQAP was evaporating, and could allow the group to regain momentum.
