US conducts around 20 more strikes in Yemen

WASHINGTON — US aircraft have conducted about 20 additional air strikes on Al Qaeda in Yemen in recent days, the Pentagon said Monday, as it continues its stepped-up campaign against the extremists.

The strikes occurred over the weekend, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said without providing details of where or how they were conducted. 

The new attacks bring the total number of strikes the United States has conducted in Yemen since February 28 to more than 70.

"We continue to target AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) in Yemen and this is done in the interests of disrupting this terror organisation that presents a very significant threat to the United States," Davis said. 

The Pentagon has increased attacks against AQAP since President Donald Trump took office in January.

An ill-fated American raid against AQAP in January left multiple civilians and a US Navy SEAL dead.

The raid was the first authorised by Trump, who drew criticism after he blamed "the generals" for having "lost" Navy SEAL Ryan Owens.

A small contingent of US forces remains on the ground in Yemen, Davis said, adding that they have not been involved in combat.

Separately from AQAP, Yemen is locked in a deadly civil war that broke out in 2015 between Iran-supported Houthi rebels and government forces backed by an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia.

America has supported the Saudi-led coalition through weapons sales, air-to-air refuelling of jets and some limited intelligence sharing. 

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis reportedly supports increasing military support for the Saudi-led coalition.

However, Davis said there had been no official change in the US position vis-a-vis the level of support.