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Al Qaeda militants seize southern Yemeni town: residents

Middle EastReporting

Forces associated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have seized control of the Yemeni town of Azzan. Reuters reports that the militants were able to take the town with no resistance, and that Azzan is the second major commercial area to fall under AQAP control. AQAP is widely seen as the most threatening branch of al-Qaeda, and they have exploited the ongoing conflict in Yemen to grow in power and effectiveness. Their power in Yemen may be limited though, as they are religiously opposed to the Houthi rebels who appear to rising more rapidly in the country overall.

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