Al-Qaida Captures Major Yemeni Airport, Sea Port And Oil Terminal After Brief Clashes

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

Article by: AHMED AL-HAJ , Associated Press Updated: April 16, 2015 - 12:15 PM

SANAA, Yemen — Al-Qaida seized control of a major airport, a sea port and an oil terminal in southern Yemen on Thursday, consolidating its hold on the country's largest province amid wider chaos pitting Shiite rebels against forces loyal to the exiled president and a Saudi-led air campaign.

Military officials and residents said al-Qaida fighters clashed briefly with members of one of Yemen's largest brigades outside Mukalla, a city the militants overran earlier this month and where they freed prison inmates. The militants then seized control of the Riyan airport and moved to secure their hold on the city's main sea port, which is also an oil terminal.

The security officials, speaking from Sanaa on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the press, said the leaders of the brigade in charge of protecting the entire area fled.

The latest advance marks a major gain for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, as the Yemeni affiliate is known, which has been linked to several failed attacks on the U.S. and is widely seen as the global network's most dangerous franchise. The group claimed responsibility for the attack on a French satirical magazine earlier this year.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/world/300058131.html

---

Oil Turns Higher, Rallies To 2015 High On Yemen Conflict

By Robert Gibbons

NEW YORK, April 16 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices jumped to fresh 2015 peaks on Thursday, turning higher on news that a tribal group made up of former Al Qaeda militants took control of a major southern oil terminal in Yemen.

The terminal is one of the major hubs for the Hadramout region exporting an average of 120,000 to 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from fields in the area.

While a relatively minor oil producer, Yemen's escalating conflict raises concerns about neighboring top oil exporter Saudi Arabia.

Brent crude for June delivery rose 66 cents to settle at $63.98 a barrel, rallying from a $62.00 low and reaching a 2015 peak for front-month Brent of $64.95.

U.S. May crude rose 32 cents to settle at $56.71, hitting a 2015 high of $57.42 after recovering from a $55.07 intraday low.

more...

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/04/16/markets-oil-idUKL4N0XD2X820150416

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. I like to think a few booby traps were left for them.

[KeepItReal]

2. There's an app for that

Just in case they are thinking about starting an AQ Air Force...

[Fred Sanders]

3. That is a devilish device. There is no end to the ingenuity of weapons manufacturers.

French?

'Durandal or Durendal (most likely from the French "durer"[citation needed], "to endure&quot ; Italian: Durlindana; Spanish: Durandal is the sword of Charlemagne's paladin Roland in the literary series known as the Matter of France.'

[KeepItReal]

4. U.S. acquired this system from the French back in the day

eom