Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen
| Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen | |||||||||
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| Part of the war on terror and the Yemeni Civil War | |||||||||
Political and military control in Yemen in February 2026: Republic of Yemen (recognized by United Nations), pro-PLC Yemeni Armed Forces and General People's Congress
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
Supported by:
Alleged Support: |
Republic of Yemen (internationally recognized; led by the PLC since 2022)
United Kingdom
STC (2017–2022) United Arab Emirates |
Supreme Political Council (formerly SRC)
Alleged support: | Islamic State - Yemen Province | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Sa'ad bin Atef al-Awlaki Casualties:
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Saudi-led coalition: |
Abu Osama al-Muhajir (POW) (2017–19) Abu Bilal al-Harbi † (2014–17) | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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113,500 soldiers and paramilitary 100 warplanes; 150,000 troops 30 warplanes; 10,000 troops 15 warplanes; 300 troops 10 warplanes; 1,000 troops 6 warplanes 6 warplanes; 1,500 troops 4 warplanes; 8,000–30,000 troops 2,100 troops 4 warships and warplanes 1,800 security contractors |
150,000–200,000 fighters ISIL: 300 (June 2015) 500 (2018) 250 (2023) 100 (2025) | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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Unknown 1,000–3,000 Saudi losses
Emirati losses
11 soldiers killed 1 F-16 crashed 4 soldiers killed 10 servicemen killed 1 F-16 shot down 1 F-16 lost 71 PMCs killed American losses 2 killed (2013) |
Thousands killed, Arrested, captured, or surrendered unknown |
39 civilians killed (2010) 85 civilians killed (2011) | ||||||
| Part of a series on |
| Jihadism |
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| Islam portal |
The Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen is an ongoing armed conflict between the Yemeni government, the United States and their allies, and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in Yemen. It is a part of the Global War on Terrorism.
Government crackdown against al-Qaeda cells began in 2001, escalating steadily until 14 January 2010, when Yemen declared open war on al-Qaeda. In addition to battling al-Qaeda across several provinces, Yemen was forced to contend with a Shia insurgency in the north and militant separatists in the south. Fighting with al-Qaeda escalated further during the course of the 2011 Yemeni revolution, with Jihadists seizing most of the Abyan Governorate and declaring it an Emirate. A second wave of violence began in early 2012, with militants claiming territory across the southwest amid heavy combat with government forces.
On 16 September 2014, a full-scale civil war erupted after Houthi fighters stormed Sana'a and ousted interim President Hadi, fracturing the Yemeni government between the UN recognized government of President Hadi and the Houthis' newly formed Supreme Political Council. The full-scale civil war led to a rise of Islamist groups (Al-Qaeda, ISIS), insurgencies (Houthis), and call for separation of South Yemen.