アメリカ中央軍が1月29日に実施したイエメンのイスラム過激組織「アラビア半島のアルカイダ」(AQAP)掃討作戦は、最高指導者カシム・アル・リミ容疑者の拘束、殺害を狙ったものだと、2月6日CNNとNBCが報じた。
米軍の当局者はCNNに対し、今回の作戦は情報収集に加え、アル・リミ容疑者の拘束を狙っていたと語った。
しかし中央軍のジョン・トーマス大佐はCNNに、「作戦目標は機密情報の収集のみで、アル・リミ容疑者がその場にいるという確実な証拠は何もなかった」と語り、情報を否定した。
NBCニュースによると、カシム・アル・リミ容疑者はメッセージを公開し、就任直後に初めて軍事作戦を指示したドナルド・トランプ大統領を嘲笑した。
アル・リミ容疑者はメッセージの中で、自らの信奉者にむけて「ホワイトハウスの愚か者たちは、最初から痛い目にあった」と語った。
イエメン警察が公表したカシム・アル・リミ容疑者の指名手配書
この奇襲作戦で、米海軍特殊部隊SEALs第6部隊のウィリアム・ライアン・オーウェンズ上等兵曹と、8歳の少女を含む民間人数名が死亡した。NBCニュースによると、アルカイダ側では少なくとも14名が死亡した。
ニューヨークタイムズによると、イエメン政府は民間の犠牲者が出たことに反発し、米軍に許可していた地上戦を今後認めないと発表した。
アメリカ国務省による「正義への報酬」プログラムで、アル・リミ容疑者は AQAPを率いる上級軍事司令官とされ、有力情報に500万ドルの懸賞金がかけられている。
ハフィントンポストUS版より翻訳・加筆しました。
▼画像集が開きます
イエメン
YEMEN-SECURITY/TRUMP(01 of25)
Women walk past a graffiti, denouncing strikes by U.S. drones in Yemen, painted on a wall in Sanaa, Yemen February 6, 2017. Picture taken February 6, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(02 of25)
People walk on the rubble of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi (credit:Mohamed Al-Sayaghi / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(03 of25)
The rubble of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike is pictured in Sanaa, Yemen February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi (credit:Mohamed Al-Sayaghi / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(04 of25)
People walk on the rubble of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi (credit:Mohamed Al-Sayaghi / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(05 of25)
A member of the media takes a video while he stands on the rubble of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi (credit:Mohamed Al-Sayaghi / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(06 of25)
People walk on the rubble of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi (credit:Mohamed Al-Sayaghi / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(07 of25)
People walk on the rubble of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen February 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi (credit:Mohamed Al-Sayaghi / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(08 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters react as they ride on the back of a truck before they head to the battlefront to fight against government forces in Sanaa, Yemen, January 19, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(09 of25)
Newly recruited fighters march as they attend a farewell ceremony before heading to the battlefront to fight against government forces in Sanaa, Yemen, January 19, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(10 of25)
A Houthi militant mans a machine gun mounted on a truck as he secures the site of a farewell ceremony for newly recruited fighters before they head to the battlefront to fight against government forces in Sanaa, Yemen, January 19, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(11 of25)
An armed boy walks at the site of a farewell ceremony for newly recruited fighters who will head to the battle fronts to fight against government forces in Sanaa, Yemen January 19, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(12 of25)
Newly recruited fighters attend a farewell ceremony as they head to the battle front to fight against government forces in Sanaa, Yemen, January 19, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(13 of25)
Women loyal to the Houthi movement parade to show support to the movement in Sanaa, Yemen January 17, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(14 of25)
A Houthi armed man walks past destroyed houses in the old quarter of the northwestern city of Saada, Yemen January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Naif Rahma (credit:Naif Rahma / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(15 of25)
Britain\'s MP Andrew Mitchell (L) tours a neighborhood of the old quarter of the northwestern city of Saada, Yemen January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Naif Rahma (credit:Naif Rahma / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(16 of25)
A Houthi militant mans a machine gun mounted on a truck during a parade held by newly recruited Houthi fighters before the fighters head to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 5, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(17 of25)
Houthi militants patrol the site of a parade held by newly recruited Houthi fighters before the fighters head to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 5, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(18 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters display skills during a parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 5, 2017. The placard reads, \"Allah is the greatest. Death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews, victory to Islam\". REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(19 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 5, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(20 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters shout slogans as they take part in a parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 4, 2017. The headbands read: \"We are tough on infidles.\" REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(21 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters take an oath as they parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 4, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(22 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighter shouts slogans as he takes part in a parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 4, 2017. The headband reads: \"We are tough on infidles.\" REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(23 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 3, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(24 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 3, 2017. The placard reads: \"Allah is the greatest. Death to America, death to Israel, a curse on the Jews, victory to Islam\". REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
YEMEN-SECURITY/(25 of25)
Newly recruited Houthi fighters ride on the back or a truck during a parade before heading to the frontline to fight against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen January 3, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (credit:Khaled Abdullah / Reuters)
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