Battle of Zinjibar (2011–2012)

Battle of Zinjibar
Part of the al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen and the Yemeni crisis during the revolution

Map of the battle
Date27 May 2011 – 12 June 2012 (2011-05-27 – 2012-06-12)
(1 year, 2 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Zinjibar and surrounding areas, Abyan Governorate, Yemen
13°7′42″N 45°22′49″E / 13.12833°N 45.38028°E / 13.12833; 45.38028
Result Yemeni government victory
Territorial
changes
Zinjibar recaptured by Yemeni government forces
Belligerents
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Ansar al-Sharia
Strength
3,000–4,000+ soldiers 700–1,000 fighters
Casualties and losses
  • 500–1,000 killed
  • 600+ wounded
600+ killed
Hundreds of civilian casualties
90,000+ displaced
Zinjibar
Location within Yemen

The Battle of Zinjibar was a battle between forces loyal to Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh and Islamist militant forces, possibly including elements of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), for control of the town of Zinjibar and its surroundings as part of the wider insurgency in the self-declared Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen. Many of the Islamist forces operating in Abyan province refer to themselves as Ansar al-Sharia ("Partisans of Sharia").

SODI