War on terror

Pentagon confirms first drone strikes under President Trump

Following press reports over the weekend, the Department of Defense has confirmed to C4ISRNET that it was responsible for three drone strikes in Yemen targeting and killing members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) – thought to be the terror group’s most potent affiliate by many. These mark the first lethal drone strikes of the Trump administration. 

A spokesman for Central Command said on Jan. 20, one strike killed an AQAP operative in the al-Baydah Governorate – noting this was conducted prior to the inauguration. One strike killed three AQAP operatives in the al-Baydah Governorate and on Jan. 22, one strike killed an AQAP operative in the al-Baydah Governorate. 

The Trump administration, both in the presidential campaign and in recent articulations of policy for the administration, has indicated it will be tough on terrorism. “Defeating ISIS and other radical Islamic terror groups will be our highest priority,” reads a page on WhiteHouse.gov under the heading “ America First Foreign Policy,” regarding the Islamic State group, which is no longer affiliated with al-Qaeda and its global nodes.