
A MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle prepares to land after a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson)
Al-Qaeda’s top bomb maker in Yemen was reportedly killed along with two other members of the terrorist group in a United States drone strike on the central Yemeni province of Ma’rib on January 30.
A combat drone targeted the vehicle of the bomb expert, who was identified as Hassan al-Hadrami by Yemeni sources, near a fuel station in Wadi Ubaidah district, killing him and his companions on the spot.
Photos from the scene indicate that al-Hadrami’s car was targeted with an AGM-114R9X laser-guided missile, a version of the Hellfire that is known as “Ninja Missile” and “Flying Ginsu”. This version has a kinetic warhead with pop-out blades instead of explosives. It was specifically developed for use against human targets.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Central Command or Yemeni authorities on the deadly drone strike in Ma’rib.
- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
According to Yemeni sources, al-Hadrami became al-Qaeda’s chief bomb maker in Yemen in November following a U.S. drone strike on the northeastern outskirts of Ma’rib city that killed Saudi expert Abdul Wahid Al-Najdi. Al-Hadrami himself was wounded in the strike.
Al-Hadrami’s new senior position in al-Qaeda and his vast experience in bomb making have reportedly made him one of the U.S. top targets in Yemen.
Al-Qaeda maintains a strong presence in Ma’rib, but only in areas controlled by Saudi-backed forces. The terrorist group stages attacks against these forces as well as on areas held by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) on a regular basis.
In the last few months, al-Qaeda’s insurgency in Yemen gained momentum. This was clear in the southern region where dozens of Saudi-backed fighters were killed or wounded in bombings orchestrated by the terrorist group’s cells. Explosive-laden cars, motorcycles and improvised explosive devices were used.
The killing of al-Hadrami was without a doubt a large blow to al-Qaeda. However, it will not likely affect its operations in Yemen.