US aircraft early Thursday conducted more than 20 airstrikes throughout Yemen, targeting Al Qaeda militants, equipment, and infrastructure, the Pentagon announced. The airstrikes, which took place in the Al Bayda and Shabwah governorates, were conducted in partnership with the Yemeni government. “The strikes will degrade the AQAP’s ability to coordinate external terror attacks and limit their ability to use territory seized from the legitimate government of Yemen of as a safe space for terror plotting,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said in a statement. The strikes come as some critics have said the Jan. 29 raid that resulted in the death of Navy SEAL Senior Chief William “Ryan” Owens did not result in actionable intelligence. The Pentagon announcement did not connect the airstrikes to intelligence gathered in the raid, which also resulted in the death of dozens of civilians.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.