US Special Operations Forces conducted a raid in the Marib Governorate of Yemen early Tuesday that killed seven militants and wounded several American personnel, Pentagon spokesperson Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters. The raid was a “counterterrorism operation” against a “base of operations” for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The special operators engaged in a firefight and called in “precision airstrikes” from an AC-130 gunship. The raid, which was conducted with the cooperation of the Yemeni government, was the first in that country since the Jan. 28 operation in which Chief Petty Officer Ryan Owens was killed. It was also the “furthest inland” ground operation US forces have conducted in Yemen to date, Davis told reporters.
When Airmen eject, the mission is clear: America leaves no warrior behind. Airmen are trained to survive, evade, resist, and escape the enemy, and everyone from ground crew to rescue personnel and commanders are committed to doing everything necessary—and possible—to bring downed Airmen home.