Two drone strikes in Yemen have resulted in the deaths of 12 militants, including a man who is suspected of being a key leader in the Islamic State’s efforts to expand into the area. Reuters reports that Jalal Baleedi, a top commander for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) who is believed to have joined the Islamic State, was among those reported killed in the strikes. AQAP has been using the ongoing conflict in Yemen to expand their operations, and the presence of Baleedi in the country strongly implies that the Islamic State is attempting to do the same.
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