Shabwah Governorate offensive (2014-2016)

Shabwah Governorate offensive (2014-2016) refers to an ongoing campaign by AQAP to take control of Shabwah Governorate, during their insurgency, and until today, at Yemeni civil war.

Habban incidents

Despite the AQAP havent presence in the Habban district, the first violent events reported in the mid-March of 2014, when three AQAP militants were reported killed while setting up a car as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). According to tribal sources, the explosion occurred near the house of the al Qaeda commander of the Sabban, Yasser al Marouh. Yemeni security forces were able to identify the three militants killed and said that two were Yemeni and one was a Saudi national. The house was severely damaged by the blast but is not confirmed if the commander he was present when it happened. They also reported that two bystanders were injured by the explosion and were rushed to Azzan Hospital in the province. One additional bystander was killed. Sources in the Yemeni security services told Arabic news outlets that they assumed the VBIED was being set up for use in an operation targeting Yemeni military or security personnel. They stated that Shabwa, Hadramawt, Abyan, and Al Bayda provinces have been battlegrounds for an open war between al Qaeda and Yemeni security personnel that has lasted for over two years and caused the deaths of hundreds. In early August, 2014, fierce fighting broke out in Habban and in the Shabwan border with Hadramaut, wits is left 12 Yemeni soldiers and 9 AQAP soldiers dead. At the beginning of the Yemeni civil war in meddle of 2015, AQAP fully captured Habban expelling Yemeni loyals to Hadi out of the city. In April 17 of 2015, 2 AQAP fighters have killed by an US airstrike int he town of Habban. 4 AQAP fighters killed in Shabwah after a US drone strike, in 3 March of 2016.

Azzan capture

In February 1 2016, AQAP captured Azzan, without a bit of resistance by the population or the Yemeni army. AQAP then begin to establish Sharia law like they did previously in the town of Zinjibar, Jaar and the other town that have captured. Reports sayd that AQAP executed some civilians that allegedly committed adultery. In 30 of March 2016, a suspected US drone strike, killed 4 AQAP soldiers, that manning a checkpoint around the outskirts of Azzan.

Government recaptures Azzan

In April 25 2016, pro-Hadi loyalists along with UAE soldiers entered Azzan after AQAP retreated from the town without fight. A day before the AQAP withdrawal, a suspected US drone strike attacked AQAP fighters in Azzan killing more than 8 fighters.