2014 Southern Yemen offensive

On 29 April 2014, the Yemeni government launched a military offensive in Abyan and Shabwah Governorates in areas perceived to be strongholds of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The primary targets of the offensive were the towns of al-Mahfad in al-Mahfad district, Abyan and Azzan in the neighbouring Mayfa'a district, Shabwah. The two towns, among other areas in the Abyan and Shabwah, were occupied by AQAP after they had lost control of the major cities of Abyan during the 2012 Southern Yemen offensive. The offensive was described as the largest military effort against AQAP by the Yemeni government since the previous offensive.

The operation was preceded by a series of United States airstrikes primarily targeting an AQAP training camp near al-Mahfad. The strikes killed 68 militants, including AQAP's local leader in al-Mahfad, Ali bin Likra al-Kazimy, who succumbed to his wounds later in May. Yemeni military forces along with Popular Committee tribesmen were divided into two fronts to focus on the two governorates. Several AQAP leaders died during the offensive, including multiple foreign commanders. On 6 May, Yemeni forces secured al-Mahfad after AQAP withdrew from the town in accordance to a deal with local tribal sheikhs. On 8 May, Azzan was captured by government forces, resulting in the fall of AQAP's last major stronghold in the south and the successful conclusion of the offensive. The offensive altogether killed 500 AQAP militants and 39. AQAP forces continued to wage attacks on Yemeni security forces in Abyan and Shabwah throughout the following months.

AQAP forces regrouped in Hadhramaut Governorate in the aftermath of losing their traditional strongholds in Abyan and Shabwah. The Yemeni government planned another offensive for the region, though the Houthi advance in Amran and later in Sanaa forced its attention elsewhere. During the ensuing Yemeni civil war, AQAP recaptured many of the areas taken from them during the offensive.